In this week’s Cornish Times, we brought you part two of our ’life in lockdown’ series of interviews and reflections from local people looking back on 12 months of the coronavirus pandemic.

Alison from Merrymeet became a volunteer delivery driver with her local doctor’s surgery at the start of the pandemic. She and her husband Phil more recently began volunteering for the vaccination centre at Pensilva’s Millennium Centre. Alison wants to thank all those who she has found to be so helpful and friendly in her year on the road around Liskeard..….

“At the start of the first lockdown, way back in March 2020, I approached my local GPs direct and offered my services as a volunteer,” she said.

“They took up my offer and I joined the team of delivery drivers. I’m still here 12 months on.

“Since then, I have been delivering prescriptions in Liskeard and many of the surrounding villages. I reckon I have delivered well over 6,000.

“I’ve met some wonderful people, had some lovely socially-distanced chats, both with humans and animals, and have seen some marvellous properties. I never knew Liskeard was so big.

“Through the Cornish Times I would like to thank Liskeard Newsagent in Fore Street, who kindly printed off a street map of Liskeard for me – a godsend until I was able to borrow, then purchase, a book of maps; the residents for their understanding whilst I momentarily blocked their drive or parked in their space whilst delivering to their neighbours; anyone who has given me directions, socially distanced again of course; and finally the talking cow from St Neot.

“I suppose I should explain the latter.

After a fruitless search, in desperation one hot summer’s day, I stopped in a gateway and asked a black and white cow if she knew where xxxx farm was.

“This voice suddenly said: ‘You’ve missed it, maid – you need to turn round and take second left’.

“My husband said it was probably the farmer, who unbeknown to me, was the other side of the hedge repairing the fence. I still like to believe it was the cow.

“Stay safe everyone, I’m convinced we can all collectively get through this."

Look out for more interviews - including Niall Dunne, worship leader with St Martin’s Church in Liskeard - and discover how two different villages responded in different ways to the challenges of the pandemic in this week’s edition of the Cornish Times.