Yesterday we heard the very sad news that another care worker had passed away, a manager of one of the care providers that operates in the borough. And today we have heard the sad news that one of our high school teachers has passed away due to Coronavirus.
On behalf of everyone, I would like to send our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family, work colleagues and friends of these two key workers who selflessly served and helped others during this crisis.
Today is Teacher Appreciation Day, so I’d like to give my thanks to all the teachers who have been working so hard, throughout this crisis, to keep our schools open so that we can teach the children of our key workers and also all of the vulnerable children in the borough.
They’ve kept the schools open, including over the Easter holidays and have done a fantastic job.
Also other teachers have been providing virtual lessons and we’ve also been working to provide laptops to children who don’t have access to those virtual lessons, if they don’t have a laptop.
I also want to put on record my thanks to all of the social workers – unsung heroes who’ve been working hard throughout this crisis – looking after our vulnerable children.
Just a quick note on testing – the army brought a mobile testing unit to Gurnell Leisure Centre Car Park on Sunday and Monday just gone. They’ll be back in another eight to ten days and people can book test appointments on the government’s central website. If you’re a key worker or if you are over 65 with symptoms you can get a test.
Also on Friday, we are celebrating VE day, the 75th anniversary. There’ll be an opportunity to celebrate at home; at 11 o’clock in the morning a one minute silence, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon raise a glass in celebration of the end of World War 2 and then in an evening after an address to the nation from the Queen , at 9pm we can go on to our doorsteps and singalong with Vera Lynn, We’ll Meet Again. And obviously in the current circumstances when we haven’t seen our family and friends
in a while, that will have particular meaning.
We are also anticipating the Prime Minister’s announcement about the end of lockdown on Sunday, but until then, please stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives.
