MATTHEW BENTON-SMITH, 16

To Key Workers, Tis letter is from me to you, but not directly. Tis letter comes from a whole nation that you have fought for through unprecedented times, and, where possible, kept the land of hope and glory smiling. To the NHS staf rushed of their feet with hospital admissions, fghting daily for people’s lives throughout some of the toughest and most testing times in the history of the country; through the unbearable beeping of lifesaving machines and the deafening cries of patients. Being the frst and sadly sometimes the last friendly face that far too many people saw during their battle with Covid-19. You gave the population a reason to come together, albeit at a distance. Every Tursday night at 7pm the streets would be bursting with pride, as we all put a hand together for you. Although we can sadly never fully repay you for your work like we wish we could, we all came together to show you how thankful we are, that we cared, and that you were in our thoughts at this loathsome time. To the shop workers braving the possibility of exposure to the virus that stopped the world but couldn’t stop you from keeping a fragmented United Kingdom stocked up. Speaking to us with a smile as we queued outside the store, that short period of social interaction that we were

otherwise deprived of. You may not realise it, but you made many people’s day, young and old, as we fnally got the chance to step out from the strained relationships in our household bubbles to see a new face. It was a time when you were fghting many battles: against coronavirus, against panic buyers, and at many times against yourselves as you found courage not to give up. As the Great British saying goes, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” To the bus drivers who made sure that the wheels kept turning and people kept moving. You helped people be on time and keep their jobs at a time when many others unfortunately couldn’t. You kept going through a period that was diferent to any other: no trafc on the roads would usually be a blessing, something that usually only happened in your wildest dreams but at this time was a daily reminder of the isolation we were facing. I would have loved nothing more than to have seen a bustling city and be sat in the rush hour trafc I once cursed every day. But you kept going, and for that we thank you. To the teachers who worked tirelessly to keep our young people educated, whether you were locked up at home or fearlessly heading into school grounds to teach the vulnerable. At a time when many children would have quite happily sat by as all their commitments and studies casually drifed out of their minds, you helped to enlighten the key workers and world leaders of tomorrow.

To anyone and everyone who kept the world moving at a time when it could easily have come to a swif halt. From myself, and the whole of our fabulous nation… it’s more than just a simple thank you; it’s a national salute.

From,

Matthew Benton-Smith

“Tis wonderfully-written letter is a heartfelt and important nod to all the people that keep the world spinning on a daily basis. I appreciate the emphasis it puts on the importance of being grateful for even the simplest of gestures, such as a smile in the supermarket queue.”

Zoe Nevin, Volunteer Editor