‘Perhaps one thing the virus has shown us is what really matters, what the important things are’, is one of the messages from mayor of Lyme Regis, Cllr Brian Larcombe MBE, as the coronavirus pandemic takes hold.

He has written a personal letter to residents about how virus is being dealt with nationally and locally, thanking local volunteers who are helping others during the crisis, and sending out a message of hope.

The mayor has spoken of these ‘unprecedented’ times, acknowledging the scale of the national initiative in response to the outbreak.

Cllr Larcombe said: “We are all paying regard to the announced advice, guidance and instruction of Government and while no one knows the ultimate reach and extent of the virus, it is of a virulent nature and will impact communities, both in the cases contracted and the effect current measures place on everyday life.”

Cllr Larcombe has spoken about the challenges of providing support and services locally due to self-isolation and social distancing but praised the local support groups.

He added: “The relatively large number of local volunteer support groups are a valued part of the way our town is responding to the effects of the virus and the disruption it’s causing.”

The mayor is looking ahead to the future and trying to find a positive in this situation, hoping the crisis helps us realise what the important things in life are.

“While everything is about the present, there will be a time when things do return to more like normality, albeit with some residual consequences of the actions now being taken that will have to be worked through,” he said.

“However, as we often find with temporary situations of scale, sometimes things don’t return entirely as before and perhaps one thing the virus has shown us is what really matters, what the important things are, and perhaps some of the things we thought were important but actually matter less are given less prominence.

“Maybe that’s the positive we can take from this.”