16 reasons Southport is smashing this coronavirus lockdown

People across Southport have done an amazing job in following the vital message – Stay Home Save Lives.

We are now in the second month of the Government’s coronavirus lockdown, with more weeks of staying at home to follow. But these are unprecedented times amidst a virus and a disease, Covid-19, that are tragically killing and hospitalising too many among us.

The more we all stay home as long as possible; and social distance when we are outside; the sooner we will beat this.

As the main photo by the brilliant MSPhotographic shows, Southport has become very quiet these past few weeks! It’s an incredible effort by everyone – let’s keep this going and emerge the other side soon. Here are reasons why Southport is smashing the coronavirus lockdown:

1 – How quiet are our streets? 

Lord Street and Southport town centre looking desolate. Photo by MSPhotographic

Have you ever seen Lord Street and Southport town centre looking this quiet?

Our town looks beautiful without traffic! But it’s a difficult time for businesses, which are making huge sacrifices at the moment.

When this lockdown finishes, we must all make a vow to Shop Local and support our amazing Southport firms. They will need us.

For more photos by MSPhotogaphic please click here. 

2 – Our local wildlife has taken over 

A swan flying over Marshside nature reserve. Photo by Debbie Claire

Are you seeing ducks waddling across main roads? Squirrels visiting your garden? Are you hearing birds singing now there is no traffic noise?

Southport’s wildlife is loving their new-found freedom! Let’s all enjoy this while we can – and make a pact to be more nature friendly when all this is over.

Wildlife emerges as people go into coronavirus lockdown

3 – Local firms are keeping us fed with deliveries 

Staff at Playtown in Southport are cooking and delivering meals to people in need in the community during the coronavirus crisis

First we had the panic buying in supermarkets, leaving shelves empty of goods such as toilet rolls (yes, really), pasta, rice, paracetamol, tinned food, flour and more. Then supermarket home delivery slots became hard to come by, as the coronavirus lockdown came in and people were ordered to stay at home.

But then small businesses across Southport mobilised and set up delivery services almost overnight. Fishmongers, butchers, greengrocers, wine merchants, dairies, small shops, all set up to make sure people across Southport are fed. Take a look at our list below!

Some, such as Playtown at Ocean Plaza and The Bold Hotel on Lord Street, have re-opened their businesses to provide food for NHS workers, care workers, vulnerable people and others who need help.

These Southport firms will deliver food during Coronavirus crisis

4 – We’re grateful to our essential workers who keep us going 

Alan Rimmer is retiring after 40 years working for Bates Dairy in Southport

How would we survive without them? While millions of people stay home, we all owe a huge debt to everyone who keeps going at personal risk to their own health to ensure we can all keep going.

Milkmen, refuse collectors, teachers, posties, supermarket workers, delivery drivers, council workers, and so many more – we salute you all!

Time to praise Great British workforce keeping us all alive during Coronavirus

5 – People are keeping us entertained in our own homes 

Phil Todd, founder of the Fundamental big fun game show

Feeling bored? There’s no excuse, with an array of very talented performers now using the likes of Zoom (who had heard of that before lockdown)? Facebook Live, Microsoft Teams and more to beam themselves into our living rooms.

Joe Wicks seems to be a particular favourite among people. But locally, you can enjoy The Southport Quiz with Chris Owen on Stand Up For Southport 7pm every Wednesday; the Fundamental big fun game show with Phil Todd; online Babyballet Southport classes for your young children; and the brilliant Live Music Streams with What’s On Southport.

Which local live streams are your favourite? Let us know!

6 – Our favourite attractions are just waiting to re-open  

Southport Pleasureland

There are so many reasons to visit Southport! From attractions such as Southport Pleasureland, Lord Street, Kings Gardens, the Botanic Gardens, Southport Pier, Southport and Ainsdale beaches; to events such as Southport Food and Drink Festival, Southport Air Show and the British Musical Fireworks Championships.

Absence just makes the heart grow fonder. Staying away for now to keep everyone safe is not a big ask. But we are looking forward to going when they do return!

Closing Southport Pleasureland during Coronavirus was right decision

7 – Clap For Carers applause gets louder every week  

Birkdale Park Nursing Home staff paraded outside their Southport care home to clap for friends and colleagues in the NHS and social care during Clap For Carers night

Lockdown and social distancing is easy when we know why we are doing it. Tragically there have now been dozens of deaths of patients with Covid-19 at Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospital with hundreds of confirmed cases.

We can only imagine what frontline NHS staff, health workers and care workers have to face on a daily basis.

It’s no wonder there is such huge applause during Clap For Carers every Thursday night.

You are all simply amazing – thank you.

8 – We are all loving the blossom! 

A blossom tree in Southport. Photo by Laura Wearing

Thank you to everyone in Stand Up For Southport for your stunning pictures of blossom tree across Southport in the past few days!

We may not be going out, but we are certainly not missing out thanks to your beautiful images. Take a look, they won’t fail to make you smile!

9 – We are so proud of our volunteers 

Volunteers at Meols Cop High School in Southport are making PPE safety visors for care home staff in Southport

Cometh the hour; cometh Southport’s community spirit.

We have been truly humbled at Stand Up For Southport to hear of all the incredible things people are doing to save lives, to look after the vulnerable, to keep people fed.

Volunteers are working in schools throughout Southport to make visors and PPE equipment for people working in our care homes. Staff at places like the Bold Hotel and Playtown are giving up their time to make sure key workers and vulnerable people are fed. Hundreds of people have signed up to help out at Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospital, or alongside Sefton Council and Sefton CVS.

Others are putting together Memory Boxes for families of those who have died with Covid-19 at our hospitals; or sewing gowns and holders for visors. So many are playing their part, and Southport is a better place for it.

Memory boxes plea for families of patients dying with Covid-19

10 – These are times when families pulled together 

Nicola Kenyon and family. Photo by Gareth Jones Photography

Lockdown seemed a terrifying prospect when it came into force last month, as schools and businesses shut, and we all retreated into our homes.

These are tough times for so many. The families and friends who are separated. Those living alone. Our key workers.

But for many families, lockdown has become a chance to spend more time together than we ever have.

Working from home, home schooling, spending weekends together have brought many families closer.

It has been a lesson in how rich and important family time really is.

Unique Covid-19 lockdown family photos will help Queenscourt or NHS

11  – Somewhere over the Rainbow we will pull through this  

Sarah Jayne said: “George and Jessica have painted a bedroom window.”

It has been wonderful to see rainbows, and teddy bears, appearing in windows all over Southport!

There are thousands of rainbows in windows of people’s homes; on the walls inside Southport Hospital; on a huge banner outside B&Q; dozens in the form of balloons outside the Sunnyside Hotel on Bath Street.

They are symbols of hope that there will be sunny days ahead after this storm has passed.

These stunning rainbows in Southport give us all hope we can beat coronavirus

12 – We will have much to look forward to when life resumes

The brand new event space, Room, at Bliss Hotel in Southport

Just before lockdown, Bliss Hotel in Southport was getting ready to unveil its sensational new events space overlooking the Marine Lake and Southport Beach. We can’t wait to see it!

Southport Pleasureland meanwhile was getting ready to open its doors for the 2020 season.

And events ahead of us at the time included Southport Flower Show, Southport Air Show and the British Musical Fireworks Championships.

When we emerge from this crisis and life slowly starts getting back to normal again, we will have much to look forward to once again. What are you looking forward to most?

13 – We all decided to Stand Up For Southport

14 – We have been enjoying some beautiful sunsets 

A beautiful Southport sunset. Photo by Annette Quane

 Just because we are at home, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy some spectacular views! 

Thank you to everyone for your superb sunset pictures these past few days. Breath-taking.

15 – Don’t worry – we haven’t missed the tide coming in

Southport Beach by Neville Grundy, with the tide out of sight. He said: “I took this on Marine Drive, Southport. It shows a life belt holder surrounded by grass, a measure of how our coastline is changing. “Southport Pier is visible in the distance.”

Now we know what you’ve all been thinking these past few weeks in lockdown.

While we are all at home, the tide is going to come in at Southport – and we are all going to miss it…

Thank you to local Southport Campaign for Real Ale ambassador and Southport pub champion Neville Grundy, who has today posted this picture of Southport Beach – and don’t worry, the tide is still out!

He said: “I took this on Marine Drive, Southport. It shows a life belt holder surrounded by grass, a measure of how our coastline is changing. Southport Pier is visible in the distance.”

16 – Lockdown may be with us – but it won’t be here furlong…

Liverpool mural artist Paul Curtis and the huge Red Rum artwork in Southport

Thank you everyone for your patience. For your sacrifice. Please continue to Stay Home Save Lives.

This may be hard but it won’t be for ever. It will be worth it in the end.

Like Southport’s legendary racehorse, Red Rum, our town has the winning spirit, the class, and the determination to overcome adversity.

We may start getting back to life at a canter, but we guarantee we will cross that winning line at a gallop.

And apologies for inflicting the worst of Dad jokes on you during lockdown – we hope we are not going to be in lockdown furlong…

DO you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com