2020 will be remembered as the year of Covid 19. So many things people had been used to doing
freely had to be re-considered as the danger of transmitting this virus became
uppermost in everyone’s minds. The joy and companionship Coin Branch had always
enjoyed was purposefully put on hold.
Any chance of catching or passing on any illness would not be allowed
either by local laws or by the Royal British Legion rules and advice.
However, many of Branch members kept in touch - meeting in
the small groups that were allowed, or more often by using the variety of communication
technology now available to everyone. It
was technology, more than anything which surprised many people as it went from
luxury to essential, from an entertainment to vital link with others. Fifteen years ago most people were complete
novices when it came to computers and only a minority of homes had personal
computers.
Now mobile telephones allow instant communication, access to
information and a degree of safety few people want to do without. Most homes
have computers, tablets, sophisticated television networks and mobile phones
and this year they came into their own, allowing people to keep abreast of
important news, to see friends and even to talk in groups. Hospital Covid patients who were not allowed
visitors could, in many cases speak with family members. People could work from home and schools were closed
and learning was often conducted on-line.
In essence most people were able to be safe at home linked
to others by modern technology.
However, this was not the case for many and people learned
to respect the workers who had to go each day and work at the essential jobs
which allowed the rest of the community to stay at home, and life to continue for
most with a certain degree of normality.
As RBL members, we appreciated that our Armed Forces stepped in during
the crisis to assist hospitals, emergency services and the government to do the
essential tasks when workers were needed and staff was short.
2021 is now here and hopes are that the available vaccines
will help to overcome the pandemic and life for everyone can get back to
normal. In the meantime people should be
grateful for technology, and especially for all essential workers whose lives
were often in danger from the virulent spread of the virus, and for our Armed
Forces who efficiently bridged the gaps and contributed to the well being of
the community, with a minimum of recognition.