A HAPPY new year to all our readers.

Plus our followers, viewers, likers, etc.

Covid-19 has cast a long shadow over this year.

Our thoughts are with the 297 people who have died in Princess Alexandra Hospital and the families they have left behind.

As the only Harlow-based news organisation left, we will continue to commit to bring all the news to you.

We produced over 4,400 stories in 2020. Over 880 were Covid-19 related. We had 5,750,000 page views.

We hate bringing the daily stats to you but it has to be done.

We will try and look for the positives and the progress.

In many ways, we have some form of road map for Covid in 2021.

We know the vaccines are here and we hope that as we see more and more people receive the vaccine, we will feel we are moving forward.

We think it is important to remain positive. As the number of people become vaccinated, as the infection rate figures come down, as the days become lighter, there may be, there can be, there will be a spring in the step.

We definitely think the mental approach is that 2021 is the recovery year.

We hope all Harlow businesses get the support they deserve.

This is a town full of great people, with a great community spirit.

So many big hearted people perhaps best illustrated by the variety of people who organised donations to the Foodbank. From little Bobby the Beaver to the mighty Rough Creed.

Our hearts and admiration go out to all those working in the NHS. We hope 2021 is a better year.

We have lost good people, From Barclay Mason, Alan Burgess, Frances Mason to name just three.

YourHarlow is a partnership between one journalist and 85,000 people.

Thanks for looking in and…let’s get there.

Michael Casey

December 31st, 2020