National Day of Reflection: How did Covid affect Tynedale

We reflected on how businesses and residents coped in lockdown.

In September 2020 after lockdown ended, owners of the popular Indian restaurant Zyka decided to refurbish their offering, to create a more spacious environment ahead of an eagerly anticipated relaunch. The business offered takeaway meals before fully reopening.

From left, Mashuk, Khaled and Rashid Miah, of the Zyka Indian restaurant in Hexham (Image: Newsquest)

In May 2020, Hexham Book Festival teamed up with a North-East children's charity to launch its children's book festival online.

READ MORE: Where Hexham hospital is ranked in the UK

Hexham Book Festival was one of the victims of the Covid-19 lockdown, and was unable to go ahead as planned.

TV presenter Carol Malia, who read children’s stories for the online Hexham Book festival, Story Space. (Image: Els Baking Bible)

Hexham Book Festival had secured special funding from the Gillian Dickinson Trust to run a children’s festival for the first time, including building a specially-commissioned Spiegeltent in Sele Park for the children’s events.

In November 2020 the Tui travel agent on Hexham's Fore Street was among 160 of the company’s stores to be axed nationwide.

The closed Tui shop on Fore Street, Hexham (Image: Newsquest)

In January 2021 a former rector of Hexham Abbey expressed his concern over 'covid deniers'.

The Rt Rev. Graham Usher served at Hexham for a decade between 2004 and 2014, before becoming the Bishop of Dudley. 

Rt Rev. Graham Usher on Hadrian's Wall while serving as the Rector of Hexham (Image: Newsquest)

On Twitter, Rev. Usher said: "The Covid-deniers make me so cross, not least because they think only of themselves and not their neighbours. Which bit do they not understand?"

The husband of a doctor, Rev. Usher said he had witnessed first-hand the level of care needed to keep people safe from the virus. 

Eleanor Donkin, of Els Baking Bible, bought and revamped a ‘hut’ in October 2020 from which to sell her sweet treats.

Eleanor Donkin of Els Baking Bible with her mobile cake hut (Image: Els Baking Bible)

Eleanor joined forces with Pans Pantry, based out of Hexham, who offer grazing boxes.

Els Baking Bible and Pans Pantry joined forces to create new grazing boxes (Image: Els Baking Bible)

In spring 2020, work continued on building Hexham's new school despite the coronavirus lockdown.

A design of QEHS' new garden area (Image: Newsquest)

The £36.1m project saw Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School undergo a transformation.

Refurbishments of the Grade II listed Hydro building and Westfield House took place, with separate buildings for the middle school and high schools constructed to the south and north.

A vulnerable 26-year-old man from Hexhamshire received his first Covid vaccine in January 2021.

Edward Common, a talented powerchair footballer, spent over 300 days in his specially-equipped bedroom since before the first national lockdown.

Edward Common pictured back home in his room after receiving a Covid vaccine (Image: Newsquest)

The sports fanatic suffers from the degenerating condition Muscular Dystrophy, and has immunosuppression, due to the steroids he relies on for his general health and wellbeing.

Hexham Against Racism was launched in summer 2020 (Image: Newsquest)

In July 2020, the Hexham Against Racism Action Group was formed by residents of the Tyne Valley following a contentious post on Facebook page Hexham Matters.