Thoughts From a Coronavirus Prisoner. By George Evans

Local historian and author George Evans has asked me to help him by publishing a very timely article on what it feels like to be a Coronavirus Prisoner on a somewhat underused blog of mine. 

I am honoured to help my former geography teacher.  

Here are a few odd thoughts that have occurred to me while the crisis has been on.

I thought they might interest other people I decided to send them to my old friend Martin to pass on if he wished.

My family and I are glad to have my good friends Phoenix Care looking after me. They have been caring for me ever since I came out of hospital over three years ago and I’m very grateful for their work feeding and cheering me up.

The Government doesn’t seem to know about carers who look after ancient people in their own homes and haven’t yet got round to testing them, even though they all visit several people a day. I watch the other key workers being clapped at 8pm on Thursdays but have my own way of thanking mine.

Every time they come to me, that’s three or four times every day, I clap them in. It shows my appreciation and I get a little shy embarrassed smile in return. If you think that’s a good idea, why not copy it?

We hear about very little else these days but Coronavirus; it’s as though nothing else is happening in the rest of the world.

A few days ago, on 15th April, it was the anniversary of the day Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated by 11 th Armoured Division which included the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and the Herefordshire Regiment (including me).

If you have any idea of how dreadful Nazi concentration camps were you would realise that the present catastrophe is quite a small thing compared with the Last World War. I was there and I remember seeing through the barbed wire the skeletons in their striped pyjamas, the walking dead, and the foul stench of burnt, rotten human meat and rotting excrement.

Don’t say it didn’t happen – I saw it and smelt it myself. They weren’t all Jews, there were also Gypsies, German homosexuals, Black people and any anti-Nazi they could catch.

All this makes Coronavirus look like a rather odd holiday for many people, horrible though it is.

Let’s finish with something much nicer; hasn’t it been a lovely bright shining spring? Not all the time of course, but sometimes I wonder if I have seen any better spring days in my 96 years than some of the ones this year.

I sit in my front garden, watching the birds and shouting “Hello” to my neighbours. Then I pop out for a little walk in the sunshine, first to where I can see The Wrekin, then to the end of the road. It is, perhaps, only three hundred yards or so, but it’s a bit of exercise and does me good.

In the meantime, here’s wishing health, peace and happiness to Martin Scholes and success to his blog or whatever it’s called. (I’m only semi-literate in computers.) Also, to All Friends Round The Wrekin, all the very best.

© George Evans. Wellington, The Wrekin.


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Police appeal

Police are appealing for the public’s help to locate a man in Telford.

Martyn Emery, 30, from Telford, is wanted for causing criminal damage and assault.

Anyone who has information about his whereabouts is asked to contact PC Stanford at Telford Patrol on 01952 214650.

Or alternatively information can be passed to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Force praises the public following weekend of fine weather, despite isolated incidents in West Mercia

West Mercia Police is thanking the public for their fantastic response to the government’s COVID-19 measures on social distancing over the weekend, despite the temptation to go out in the sunny weather.

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding said: “I want to thank the vast majority of people across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire for adhering to social distancing rules, which state that everybody must stay at home where possible and only leave if they have a ‘reasonable excuse’, such as exercise or shopping for basic necessities.

“I have been briefed and seen numerous Images from across the three counties showing normally vibrant towns and villages empty, and people being sensible in rural areas while exercising. However, there were isolated examples from across the force area of people flouting the restrictions, criminals taking advantage of the lockdown and a charge being brought following an incident where a security guard was spat at. I want to reassure the public that we will engage, explain and encourage most people to comply with the rules but we will enforce where people are deliberately endangering our NHS and others by non-compliance.”

In Hereford, a 26 year old man was charged at the weekend with obstructing a person from carrying out a function under the Coronavirus legislation and assault by beating, following an incident outside a supermarket where a security officer was spat on and assaulted.

Meanwhile, in Worcestershire, thieves exploited the lockdown to target the cars of two nurses working on Saturday 4 April. During their 13 hour shift at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, the catalytic convertors from their cars were stolen while parked in the staff car park. An investigation is now underway.

Chief Superintendent Harding continued: “We understand that the lockdown is challenging. However, people must respect the regulations, as that is the only way of making sure that we restrict the spread of the disease.

“However, the behaviour of an irresponsible few was dealt with by our officers, ranging from public gatherings breaking social distancing rules to the nurses affected by theft. Crimes such as the latter are awful at the best of times, but to target NHS staff in the current climate is truly abhorrent. An investigation is underway and we are doing all we can to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

“The good news is that it is the minority and most people are behaving respectfully and legally, showing real community spirit. However, where needed we can use enforcement, including the new Coronavirus legislation if appropriate, to protect workers and the public, and we are clear that incidents such as spitting at others will be met with an incredibly robust response by Police and we will arrest people and put them before the court. We are also able to target anyone who is out and about in our community seeking to cause harm, we have seen a number of proactive arrests showing that we can ensure that both the current rules are being complied with and that we continue to target other criminality.

“We understand you may have concerns about gatherings and people not following the guidelines, and you can report any concerns where you feel there is a significant issue or breach of coronavirus measures on our website at www.westmercia.police.uk, using the ‘Tell us about’ button on the homepage. In the meantime, we will continue to be out across the force area, engaging, explaining and encouraging people to #stayhomesavelives.”

Plea to road users to take extra care

With a major national incident currently in place for COVID19 and with national advice evolving rapidly, it’s important we don’t lose sight of the part we all have to play in staying safe.

West Mercia Police’s commitment to road casualty reduction is ongoing and keeping the road network safe and operating is still an integral part of policing over the coming months.

The pressure being placed upon the NHS and emergency services is well known so a national campaign has been launched to encourage all road users to ‘Take Extra Care’ to reduce any additional strain onto emergency services.

We are encouraging all road users to ‘Take Extra Care’ over these coming weeks, particularly those of motorised vehicles that are still using the road network for essential work and supplies, but also those that may be walking or cycling for their one piece of exercise per day.

Statistics show over 160,000 people were killed or seriously injured on Great Britain’s roads in 2019, an average of 440 a day. In all of these cases the police and possibly ambulance and fire would’ve attended.

To reduce the number of road casualties during this time the campaign is urging all road users to follow the Government guidelines and only travel when essential for work, supplies or as allocated exercise locally. The plea when travelling is to avoid all unnecessary journeys and to take extra care and not take any unnecessary risks.

Whether you are a driver, rider, cyclist or pedestrian – we can all play our part over the coming months by taking extra care on every journey.

Telford Police Cadets in Easter Egg donations

Hundreds of Easter eggs have been donated to local food banks in Telford, thanks to Telford Police Cadets. 

The donation comes as the cadets changed their plans for the next phase of their ‘Bridging the Gap’ initiative, the initiative sees them visit retirement homes throughout the borough.

Over the Easter period the cadets had intended to visit Wrekin Housing Group retirement living schemes in Newport to hand out the Easter eggs to residents and tidy up the communal gardens.

With the current regulations in relation to Covid-19 in place the cadets have delayed their plans however did not want the Easter eggs to go to waste.

Earlier this week, hundreds of Easter eggs were donated to foodbanks across Telford. A large Easter egg was also donated to the children’s ward at the Princess Royal Hospital.

Telford cadet leader, PC Claire Walker-Shale, said: “The cadets are really passionate about their Bridging the Gap initiative, they and the residents they visit always thoroughly enjoy it, however, quite rightly so, it just would not be possible for it to go ahead at the moment.

“Being left with hundreds of Easter eggs and not wanting them to go to waste we decided to contact Telford & Wrekin Council to see if local foodbanks would like them.

“We know that in these difficult times there will be children going without an Easter egg this year and thought it would be a nice gesture to add them to the food supplies for families.

“The cadets also wanted to make sure children who are in hospital at the moment do not go without and therefore decided to donate a large Easter egg to the children’s ward at the Princess Royal Hospital.

“Hopefully the Easter eggs will help bring a little cheer for everyone.”

Easter eggs have been delivered to the Hub on the Hill in Sutton Hill, the Leegate Centre in Leegomery and The Newport initiative.

PC Walker-Shale added: “I want to reassure our residents in Newport that as soon as they are able to the cadets will come and visit. We know how much everyone was looking forward to it and don’t want anyone to miss out.”

West Mercia Police Cadets scheme is a voluntary scheme for young people that sees them get involved in policing from carrying out patrols to offering crime prevention advice and supporting local communities. The scheme gives young people vital life skills for whatever path they follow in the future.

Fire call to Apley Court, Severn Drive, Wellington

At 12:06 on Wednesday, 8 April, 2020, SFRS Fire Control received a call reporting a fire classified as AFA in Apley Court, Severn Drive, Wellington .

1 fire appliance was mobilised from Wellington.

Report of fire alarm actuated which was found to be due to fumes from cooking.

Car fire call

At 15:49 on Wednesday, 8 April, 2020, SFRS Fire Control received a call reporting a fire classified as Car Fire in Cluddley Lane, Wellington.

One fire appliance was mobilised from Wellington.

Call to a vehicle smoking, which was found to be from a mechanical fault.