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#EXETER TOGETHER GREG INGHAM

It’s tough, but this too shall pass

MediaClash CEO Greg Ingham joins us for the first of an occasional series of columns during the current crisis #ExeterTogether

“It’s tough – but this too shall pass #ExeterTogether”

There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” Vladimir Ilyich Lenin hasn’t appeared too often in Exeter Living, oddly. But his quote was made for the week in March where our worlds changed utterly.

Just before 5pm on the Monday, *ritain effectively, largely, stopped. 7ٻces' <o be closed. 8ubs, restaurants, cafus' 0mmm° Schools, colleges, =nis' 7nly a question of time.

<hat was barely  hours ago for me, writing this; it already feels like aeons ago. For you reading this column in the days and weeks to come, the world will have changed completely.

But just as we all know that these are the toughest of tough times, so we all know that these times shall pass. 0ow long that taSes, we don’t know. Until then, we stand together in support of each other. Exeter<ogether

Look out for each other, look after each other. Check in. We all need help to get through this.

<he friendships and sheer decency of people in Exeter are such positive forces in good times. 1n bad times, it is absolutely vital. We’re sure that we’ll all seek to apply this sort of empathy and thoughtfulness to our family, colleagues, clients and customers. <hey will appreciate it. 5ore than that, it’s the right thing to do. We can all help. And the businesses have the greatest opportunity to help. <hey have the connections. <ime to use them. W hat are we doing to help at Exeter Living' Our approach in every issue here and in our sister magazines in Bath, *ristol and +ardiff is to continue to find the good stuff to celebrate – always. We’ll be publishing as normal, in these utterly abnormal times. So please: Œ +ontact our Editor 0arry 6oble harriet.noble@mediaclash.co.uk with your news.

Œ <ag or follow us on <witter and 1nsta (Exeter4iving (Exeter4iving)wd ( Exeter8rop)wds and send your messages – we’ll then help promote. =se the hashtag Exeter<ogether

Π<ell us about any new initiatives Рnew support groups, new food distribution, new charity activities. Anything which you know about which companies and organisations are doing to help us all through this

• Look out for our emails with news of our city. If you are not on the lists, please email liam.jones@ mediaclash.co.uk

Œ 7ur events liSe the celebration of our 15 years of publishing and our Summer 8arty are on hold at the moment. But they will return. We will all celebrate together, just as we did at the Awards earlier this month. And our plans are full steam ahead for the new Exeter 8roperty )wards in 6ovember. +ommunality matters more than ever T here’s a phrase, “A rising tide Æoats all boatsº. As a business strategy, it’s perhaps a tad inert if true.

But think of it like this. We all have to find a way of hunSering down, of getting through this. 7f showing love, support and thoughtfulness – always. While just as always supporting our local Exeter businesses where we can. Because when that rising tide comes Æowing bacS in, as it surely will, there will be such joy, such sense of release, such achievement in getting through it – and such opportunity for all of us.

We face this challenge together. Stay safe.