In The Cornish Times we’ve been publishing interviews with local people about how the lockdowns have affected their lives. We’ll have more to read in the next edition of the paper. Here, Fay Barrett looks back over the last 12 months.

“THE last year has been unlike any life experience I have had before!” says Fay, of Liskeard.

“I hope folk will put as much energy into getting back on track and going forwards as they do into criticism of what should have been done.”

Fay, 74, is now retired, but worked for more than 30 years as an accountant’s clerk for a local firm.

An active member of St Martin’s Church, Fay is also interested in gardening, and is a member of the U3A and many of its groups. She enjoys walking, reading and meeting with her family and friends.

Fay is a widow, and lives on her own. Her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren live in Tavistock.

“When I first heard about coronavirus I did not expect it to affect this country so seriously and devastatingly. I thought it was going to be something like SARS or Ebola and affect people elsewhere in the world. How wrong can you be!

“We were soon in the first lockdown and realised this was a killer unlike anything we had known. I worried greatly about my family and anything happening to them.

“I wasn’t so concerned about myself, because although I would like to enjoy life for a lot longer, I have had a good life.

“I didn’t make any plans but tried to take it a day at a time, praying there would be a solution.

“For me, the main ways in which my life has changed have been that all activities have stopped except church. Meeting with friends and visiting generally has been curtailed, and there has been no visiting pubs and restaurants, holidays or travel.

“Social distancing and masks make casual encounters difficult, particularly if you wear a hearing aid, like me, as lip reading is a great part of knowing what is said.

“One of the most difficult points over the last year was having to have a cyst removed from my spine and wondering if I was going to get the operation.

“I was very blessed and had surgery just a few days before the department closed down.

“I have still managed to be mainly independent, despite having back surgery in late October, although I am so grateful my daughter is at the other end of the phone and would come at any time.

“Between Christmas and New Year I had managed to walk almost a mile as part of my recovery from surgery.

“I challenged myself on New Year’s Day to walk a mile every day. I’ve done this whatever the weather, sometimes with the friend you are allowed to walk with. I have explored parts of the town on the footpaths I have not seen before.”

Fay, added: “Faith, family and friends are the most important things in my life. All have been tested in the last year but not found wanting.

“Faith is there and I am on a journey with Jesus. I have to trust Him until he calls time.

“It’s not always easy, but I am so grateful I made a decision 37 years ago to follow Him, as did my husband.

“When my husband died, age 64, life seemed bleak, but God is a great provider and I know just as there was another life then, that there is a life after COVID – or possibly living with it hanging around.

“Praise God for the brains of the scientists and all that has been done to make and administer a vaccine.”

Fay continued: “My family are loyal and wonderful. The grandchildren keep you interested in what is going on with their lives and give you a perspective on the way they see things. They add a lot of fun and humour to life.

“The family bubble, if you live on your own, has been so necessary in the latest winter lockdown.

“My daughter and son-in-law are invaluable in the support they give, phoning, zooming, visiting, taking me to appointments, and doing little jobs.

“They have been part of God’s provision for me, as work brought them to the South West 20 years ago before my husband died. What a gift they have been.

“Friends are wonderful. We have stuck together in this last year, meeting up when we were able and by phone or online.

“We have found ways to chat in person by parking and winding down the window with a safe distance between us, and walking with one other.

“In the last year, I’ve noticed that some folk who don’t come to church usually have watched online.

“I personally feel the church has responded well. The Archbishop has tried to be very proactive in response to the pandemic, and tried to set an example doing charity work and getting a jab publicly.

“There have been numerous services on radio and television.

“Locally, St Martin’s has continued to provide COVID-safe services. We have a wonderful leadership team who have learnt to provide most things online, including services, zoom meetings and YouTube. Stalwart churchwardens and volunteers have kept the building open and sanitised for all allowable times. Many church members, including the vicar, have volunteered for various initiatives.

“My faith has kept me ‘on track’. God is faithful, always there and never changes. He never promises an easy life or avoidance of anything nasty but he does promise to be in it with us.

“My garden has brought me joy and I have been more at home to work in it and enjoy it.

“And there has been laughter with friends over the phone, on zoom and when we were able to meet. A lot has been over silly situations, captions, cartoons and a kindred sense of humour.

“I haven’t done anything new, because if you have a garden you haven’t much free time, and are grateful to read or watch TV when it is wet.

“In the last year, most people have been kind and courteous and have asked if you needed any help in the last year. It would be so good if this continued.

“Life will have changed and we can’t really know what ‘normal’ will be like. We will have to wait and see, and change with it.

“We can’t go back as such, only forwards. There have been unprecedented situations and, of course, mistakes were made. That’s life, let us try and be positive, learn and get on with it.

“I will look forward enormously to being able to meet with all my friends, to have a holiday again and some day trips. I hope the U3A and all its groups will be able to start up again.”