Bradford 101 ages 80-89 on coronavirus pandemic

NEXT: AGES 90-100: 'At least in wartime we could see our family and friends'

Bevan Roper, 81, Dry Cleaner, from Thornton

Since the pandemic began, trade has been down at the shop, and it hasn’t picked up again. As an essential business, we were allowed to stay open during lockdown, which we did for a couple of hours a day, but it’s been absolutely dead.

We’re the sort of people who like to go out and look after ourselves. We don’t sit around waiting for things to be done for us, so we’ve still been going out to do our shopping and things. One thing we have missed is going out for meals. We like to go out each week, even if it’s just for fish and chips, but we weren’t able to do that during lockdown.

Richard Roper, 81, resident At Elmhurst Care Home, Undercliffe

I think all this is appalling, it’s worse than the war in a different way. No one knows when the end is near. I feel that only time will get us out of this and that’s going to be some time as the Government seems to have lost all control and this virus is winning. I am missing my family, just like everyone, but I have been extremely lucky my sister also lives here with me. We’ve had window waves, phone calls and letters. The staff are doing an amazing job at keeping us safe and I am grateful. I do hope this doesn’t last much longer. I think it’s going to last a while.

Sheila Watson, 85, retired home care worker, from Pudsey

I’m missing my family not being able to come and visit me. I’ve got a great grandson, who was born in February and I haven’t seen him since he was three months old. I miss my church on a Sunday. I think I’m missing hugs more than anything. Except for that, I’m rather lucky. I’m in my daughter’s bubble, so she can come and visit me. My daughter-in-law and son get a little bit of shopping. I go for a short walk everyday and keep occupied with chores, cooking my own meals, knitting and reading.

Marian Firth, 86, Retired, from Harden

I miss going out shopping, and I also miss going to our usual Sunday morning service at church. Fortunately, my daughter gets my weekly shopping, for which I am most grateful. I pass many happy hours working in my garden, which gives me my daily exercise. It has been my saviour during this pandemic. Being a schoolgirl through the Second World War, we had to carry gas masks everywhere we went. So the little face masks we have now are not so bad. I’m looking forward to the day when all these restrictions are lifted and I can give my great-grandchildren a lovely big hug!

Jeffrey Long MBE, 89, Parachute Regiment Veteran and Fundraiser, from Bingley

Normally I make many visits to London for meetings and events, but most things were cancelled during lockdown. I took advantage of the one hour for exercise. I’ve continued my fundraising walks, raising money for the Paras, the RNLI, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Care Workers Charity. Despite suffering from a service back injury, blood cancer and a recently diagnosed tumour on my hand, I’ll be celebrating starting my 90th year by walking 10 miles along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Mary Pardoe, 82, Retired, from Baildon

There’s about five, where we live, elderly couples and me. We had a fish and chip run every week and the fish shop brought it up for us. They were beautiful, they were gorgeous. The fish was that big, it was still swimming! Our families all helped. We had a brilliant time, you know. If we wanted something special from Shipley or Bradford, one of their family would go for it. We seemed to get through it brilliantly. I was taken poorly one evening and they never left my side until my daughter turned up. We did our bit and we’re still doing it. It’s surprising what people can do.

Josie Simpson, 84, Retired, from Harden

At first I was quite frightened, like a lot of people. Normally I walk every day, and I continued to do that, but chose to go very early to avoid seeing anyone. I collected wild flowers to press to make birthday cards for people, which has kept me busy, along with my gardening. I haven’t been to any restaurants, cafes, cinemas or shops. I miss meeting my friends for coffees and lunches, which I used to do every day. We just talk on the phone now. I’ve learned to keep in touch with my family online. We do quizzes and they send me photographs of my great-grandchildren, which I love. I’ve enjoyed seeing them in my garden when the rules and weather allow.

NEXT: AGES 90-100: 'At least in wartime we could see our family and friends'

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