It is hard to believe the Covid pandemic, with its long lockdowns, vaccine drives and bitter tragedies reached its height just a few years ago. Life didn’t take long to return to normal after the turbulent, generation-defining events of 2020 and 2021.

Usually, recollections of events just four-years removed wouldn’t qualify for a nostalgia column. But given the sense of detachment from those times, we felt it apt to continue our series of articles delving into the Herald archive with a flashback to the first edition of the first Covid lockdown.

In its edition of March 19, 2020, the Herald reported: “In a true representation of community spirit, people across the Herald area have banded together to assist those in need during the Covid-19 outbreak.”

The article added: “The town’s relief effort took a major step forward on Tuesday with the inaugural meeting of the Farnham Covid-19 Co-ordination Group. 

“The object of this group, formed by members of the Farnham Town Council, Farnham Maltings, the Herald and other community representatives, is to unite and publicise the community’s relief efforts and provide logistical support where needed.”

The Herald’s front-page coupon was part of the Helping Hand campaign and many residents and businesses did their bit, they also gave a helping hand.

Most Farnham residents will remember visiting Farnham’s health centre for their jabs and what a logistical exercise it was for Farnham Hospital’s GP-run vaccination service. A spectrum of surgeries, NHS healthcare heroes and many volunteer marshals from Farnham really did make a difference.

Many of these community groups and selfless stalwarts were later honoured by the town’s MP Jeremy Hunt through his Covid Heroes awards, travelling to Tindle Newspapers’ Old Court House headquarters in Union Road, Farnham, for an event celebrating their efforts and drawing a line under an extraordinary period in the town’s history.