During the Covid lockdown 5 years ago, we needed heroes to help see us through to the other side. And if there is one thing that we have learned during the coronavirus pandemic, it's that Essex was full of them. During Covid, everything changed seemingly over night.
Thousands of people lost their jobs and sadly thousands also lost their lives. And during these times, there were some unsung heroes in the county which kept the county going. From frontline workers such as doctors, nurses and carers to the lesser known heroes, we had many here in Essex.
READ MORE: The Essex town in the shadow of Lakeside that has one of the biggest Costcos in Britain READ MORE: The hidden gem coffee shop hardly anybody knows is there with the best cookies 5 years on from the first Covid lockdown, we are looking back at just some of the unsung heroes who kept the county going. There are hundreds of people beyond the individuals we've highlighted in Essex all making a difference, who kept us smiling even in some of our darkest days. Here are 51 of Essex's amazing heroes helping our communities and protecting the NHS.
A community radio DJ from Phoenix FM transformed the weekly open mic night at the Essex Arms on Warley Hill into a virtual event. When the event could no longer take place due to social distancing measures, John Good encouraged performers to upload videos of themselves singing to the event’s Facebook group. "It is the only way," he said.
"At the open mic night we can get anywhere bet.