Although a marked improvement on the last, this year has seen everyone face much of the same challenges.
However, there have been many moments of hope and light to take note of. Here, we take a look back on some of the most noteworthy moments of 2021.
If January blues weren’t bad enough, there was the added challenge of confining ourselves to our houses once again as a third national lockdown was announced.
However, there was light at the end of the tunnel after Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the Government’s ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown in February, and the prospect of children at least being able to return to chool loomed closer.
BACK TO SCHOOL: Pupils at Caldew Lea Primary School in Carlisle on March 12
Time may have seemed to stand still as a result of the lockdown, but there were major changes - especially to Carlisle’s city scape as the demolition of the Sands Centre got underway in January, marking an exciting period of change for the popular venue.
NEW ERA: Demolition work on the Sands Centre in Carlisle was well underway by January 29. Picture: Stuart Walker
Primary and secondary school pupils across Cumbria started returning to their classrooms on March 12 and a new Large Vaccination Centre opened in north Cumbria - the first in the area.
The opening new centre at Penrith Auction Mart offered an insight into the huge effort volunteers and health care staff were making to get the county vaccinated in the early part of the year.
MILESTONE MOMENT: Penrith Auction Mart opened as north Cumbria’s first Large Vaccination Centre on March 25
Non-essential retail was able to reopen, along with public buildings and hairdressers, on April 12. Huge queues were seen outside Primark in Carlisle City Centre on that day.
There were still challenges for the high street to navigate - the closure of Debenhams in the lanes on May 12 being one.
Crowds started qeueuing outside Primark as non-essential retail reopened on April 12
There were great moments of joy to take note of despite these difficulties - notably Cumbrian marathon hero, Gary McKee completing his 110 marathons in 110 days challenge on May 21, raising £100,000 for Macmillan Cancer support.
MARATHON HERO: Gary McKee crosses the finish line after his 110 marathons in 110 dys challenge on May 21
There was also the Euro’s, with England’s success in making it through to the final drawing celebrating crowds of people on to streets across the county.
CELEBRATION: Crowds gather on Botchergate in Carlisle city centre after Engand beat Denmark 2-1 in the Euro 2020 semi final
The celebrations were short lived as Italy beat England on penalties in the final.
EURO FUN:Fans enjoy the festival atmosphere of the Euro’s at the Soup Arena in Workington
During September and October, an inquiry into plans for a new coal mine in Whitehaven, which dominated headlines (locally and nationally), attracted crowds of protesters.
CONTROVERSY: Protesters gather outside the site of the proposed coal mine in Whitehaven in September, Pic: Owen Humphreys/PA
Floods badly affected parts of Cumbria in October and Storm Arwen in November brought more chaos.
However, as is usual in Cumbria during such events, communities pulled together.
AID: Cockermouth Mountain Rescue came to the aid of the community as floods struck parts of Cumbria on October 28. Pic: Cockermouth MTR
That, if anything, is something that seems to stay the same as the years go by.
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