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Photograph: David Pitron
LOCKDOWN
JOURNAL IN P&TG
In January the World Health Organisation
declared China’s coronavirus epidemic an
international public health emergency after the
outbreaks occurred in other countries. In Penn
and Tylers Green it all seemed a long way off.
We were looking forward to an exciting 2020
with big plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary
of VE Day in May.
In February it was becoming increasingly
obvious we were facing something much more
serious than a winter flu outbreak. On 26
February the Simpson Centre, of which Penn
Surgery is a part, closed for a few hours for a
deep clean after a patient with coronavirus
symptoms entered the building. At Highfield
Surgery doctors asked patients with flu-like
symptoms to ring the surgery first so the duty
doctor could ring them back.
By early March all village organisations were
taking extra precautions against the spread of
the virus. In the local schools extra cleaning
regimes were introduced and children taught the
www.pennandtylersgreen.org.uk
Village Voice June/July 2020
20 second Hand Washing Song. On 12 March a
meeting to form a Penn & Tylers Green History
Society was called off at two hours notice when
it became obvious most people were edgy about
sitting in a room in close proximity to others.
From that moment on, all our lives changed
dramatically and I decided to write daily
updates on the Penn and Tylers Green Blog.
Here’s a resume:
16 March to 22 March
A dramatic week. The schools closed, although
Tylers Green Middle School remained open for
a small number of children whose parents were
key workers. The parish rooms in Penn and
Tylers Green , Tylers Green Village Hall and
Hazlemere Community Centre also closed.
Local cinemas and theatres closed as well as
pubs and restaurants. The churches closed for
congregations and recorded on-line Mothering
Sunday services. The parish councils cancelled
their meetings and P&TG Football Club and
the P&TG Cricket Club suspended all training
and matches. The football club also cancelled its
football festival and beer festival due for May.
The Fun Run organisers cancelled the Penn
Seven & Fun Run due for June and the
organisers of the May VE Day extravaganza,
postponed the event.
The village
badminton club, chess
club, bridge club and
all the yoga, fitness and
sports classes canceled
their sessions until
further notice.
The first local
fatality from the
disease, a man in his
70s, occurred at
Wycombe Hospital.
Our local care homes
went into complete
lockdown. Visiting
was severely restricted
at local hospitals. In
25