Vaccine Progress Ensures Further Easing of Restrictions Wednesday, 14 April, 2021 The news of the death of Prince Philip reminded me of the words of the Cheltenham poet, Adam Gordon. He wrote “Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.” They could have been written for the Duke of Edinburgh. Even if he could be abrupt, his long life of service was underpinned by the essential qualities of kindness and... Opinions
Cause for Optimism in COVID Battle 3rd February 2021 With each passing week, there are further reasons to be optimistic for our future here in Cheltenham. Although the numbers in our hospitals remain high, the... Opinions
Signs Lockdown is Working Means we must Focus on Getting Children back to School 27th January 2021 This week has marked a grim milestone for deaths in our country of people with COVID. We mourn every single one, especially those we have loved and lost in... Opinions
Alex Pays Tribute to Local NHS Staff and Volunteers for Vaccine Rollout 20th January 2021 This week, I was delighted to hear Cheltenham being specifically commended by the Prime Minister at the Downing Street press conference for its progress on the... Opinions
Alex: Lockdown is Needed Whilst Vaccine Rollout Progress 6th January 2021 On Tuesday evening I met virtually with the head of Public Health Gloucestershire as well as the local senior NHS leadership. The data was grim. Following the... Opinions
Alex Welcomes Approval of AstraZeneca Vaccine 30th December 2020 As I write this, news is coming in of the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. This is incredibly important and welcome news for the whole country... Opinions
Alex: Discovery of Mutant COVID Strain 'Marks Grim End to Horrible Year' 24th December 2020 News of the spread of the mutant COVID strain marks a grim end to a horrible year. As I write, SAGE experts and ministers are meeting to decide whether Tier 4... Opinions
Sweden's 'Herd Immunity' Strategy Has Failed 23rd December 2020 News of the spread of the mutant COVID strain marks a grim end to a horrible year. As I write, SAGE experts and ministers are meeting to decide whether Tier 4... Opinions
Alex Urges People to Take Care Over Christmas 16th December 2020 Readers of the Echo will be aware that the situation in Gloucestershire’s hospitals is serious. Earlier this week, the number of COVID-positive patients in... Opinions
Alex Welcomes Covid Vaccine Rollout 9th December 2020 As a local nurse was the first to receive COVID-19 vaccine in Gloucestershire earlier this week, this is not a time for fanfare or jingoism. Instead, it’s a... Opinions