The Queen’s representative in West Lothian has paid tribute to the resilience of people living in the area in the face of the pandemic.
Moira Niven MBE DL, Lord-Lieutenant for West Lothian, said after months of lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus, she wanted to send everyone a message of appreciation and gratitude for the amazing community response during this very difficult time.
She said thank you to all the frontline workers for their hard work over the last few months and gave her sympathy to those who have lost a loved one to the virus.
Mrs Niven continued: “These are unprecedented times which Her Majesty spoke of in her message to the nation. The cost to human life has been truly heartbreaking.
“My sympathy goes out to every one of you who has lost loved ones and friends, and I send my very best wishes to those who may be suffering from the virus and or its after effects.
“I also know the gratitude we all feel to the frontline public, social, business and volunteer services who continue to work round the clock so tirelessly to keep us safe and enable us to maintain our own lives at this time of great challenge.
“NHS and care staff are an incredibly special group who look after those most at risk and in need of medical help and care, day in, day out. Their efforts are quite astonishing and the debt of gratitude that we owe to them cannot be overstated.
“It is heartening to see the massive voluntary and community effort around West Lothian with so many inspiring acts of kindness and courage to protect the vulnerable and to take care of each other. A number of organisations and charities in West Lothian that the Lieutenancy supports have played a central role in ensuring the delivery of front-line support where it has been needed.”
Mrs Niven said she would do her utmost to recognise the hard work and sacrifices so many people have made.
She continued: “West Lothian Council has been featuring examples of the extraordinary work of individuals and communities around our county on their social media channels, as have the local newspapers. These are inspirational examples of our local efforts.
An important focus of the Lieutenancy’s work has always been to highlight people and organisations who make a positive difference to the life of our county.
“Although our work on the ground is at present inevitably limited, I, my Vice and Deputy Lieutenants will continue to do all we can to support the vital work which so many are contributing to in order to meet the needs of the people of West Lothian.
“We are contacting as many local groups as we can to thank them and acknowledge their contribution.”
