Photographer Richard Wintle has run his own picture agency in Swindon for the past half century. Have suffered from cancer he is in the vulnerable category and has to spend the next 12 weeks on lockdown.
I remember when I lived in a flat 16 storeys up on the outskirts of Liverpool, and looking out from the balcony towards Southport where we could see the rain edging towards us. As it moved ever closer I knew where it was raining, because people started running for cover. Coronavirus is like the rain and social media is the vision; we could see it coming.
As a cancer patient I had to be very aware of its progress, and my wife Pat sent me into lockdown well before restrictions were imposed in any formal way. Social media and news channels are my way of keeping informed, and what I see scares me.
In being kept locked down, Pat and I have started to sort out the garden, and my allotment is one retreat that’s breaking the emotional fatigue of being confined to home.
Lockdown has also given me a chance to organise my extensive picture archive, and start on a second book of images and stories from Swindon recent history.
When we went into lockdown the freezer and larder were quite full, and so I have delighted in inventing meals from what’s available, especially as getting a delivery from the big supermarket chains was impossible. Here my son and daughter provided a lifeline, delivering to us add-ons to their shopping lists of fresh food.
I feel sorry for the people in apartments, because I know how they must feel having had a spell living in a flat with no garden. I see future problems if we continue to build small and cramped housing, as I am sure pandemics will hit us again. But I hope COVID-19 proves a vision into the future, and combined with the inevitable hindsight gives the world the vision to move on in a better way.
Swindon Link is calling on its readers to write to us about their experiences for our campaign called 'Voices from The Coronavirus'. The idea is that we can share our experiences underlining that none of us are alone.
We want to hear from you from whatever walk of life you come from to hear how you are dealing with this new reality. Everybody has a story to share from keyworkers to teenagers. It doesn't matter what your writing ability is, the whole point of this is to make sure every voice is heard so that people don't feel that they are battling this alone. We will try to publish your story on our website no matter who you are.
All you have to do is write to us with your experiences to [email protected]. Please make sure that you send a picture of yourself to go with the piece and try and keep it under 500 words. Please also include some basic details about yourself. For more details press here
And for previous entries into our Voices from The Coronavirus series press here
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