Every week, we post up information about the features and stories in our latest issue on Facebook or Twitter.
And every week we’re delighted to hear from you that you’re finding us a respite in these difficult times.
Everyone in the team is just glad that we can continue to produce it under tricky circumstances, when we’re all spread out across the local area.
Editor Angela has explained how we manage to make this work.
Thankfully, we had systems in place well before the crisis, and the transition to homeworking hasn’t been too difficult.
Features team’s Mairi. Photograph courtesy of Mairi Hughes.
In the Features team, we’re really trying to get the balance right — the balance between acknowledging what’s going on, but still providing inspiration, escapism and uplifting stories.
Whilst we devote pages to people who have run around the world, started a charity or helped wildlife, it seems only right also to say thank you to the heroes who are writing about the heroes!
Some have kids now at home while they work (5, for one writer!), others are — like thousands across the country — checking in on relatives or neighbours in need. And all the while they’re helping us produce the magazine.
It’s thanks to them that my blood pressure isn’t through the roof!
We’re getting the same great quality of content coming in, despite all these additional challenges.
Have you met our features writers? We chatted to a few for the website over the years:
- Neil McAllister
- Willie Shand
- Pat Coulter
- Polly Pullar
- Colleen Shannon
- Gillian Thornton
- Dawn Geddes
- Gillian Harvey
- Solange Hando
To name but a few!
The coronavirus has actually been the second problem we’ve faced this year. Simon Whaley had a few cover feature trips lined up for us at the start of 2020, but heavy flooding from December through to February meant that those trips were nigh-on impossible to organise.
Simon made it, though — as you’ll see in our May 9 issue, with his piece on Shrewsbury, a town badly hit by the weather.
Shutterstock.
Simon kept a diligent eye on the town’s condition until he was able to make his visit.
We hope you enjoy the feature, and when this is all over, that you might think about paying Shrewsbury a visit.
I’d imagine a lot of businesses are going to need our support and patronage over the months ahead.
2020 has been an unusual year so far, for sure.
So it’s a big thank-you from me to all of our writers for helping us keep your weekly “Friend” coming — and a big thank-you to you, our readers, for keeping calm and carrying on reading.
Read more from Alex’s Features Ed blog.
Alex Corlett I am the "Friend's" Features Editor, working with the talented Features Team to bring you everything from cryptic crosswords to financial advice, knitting patterns to international travel and inspirational real life stories. Always on the hunt for a new feature idea, I also enjoy cycling and love a good tea room.
