My heart goes out to all the residents who have lost loved ones in this almost unimaginable time of pestilence and to those whose health has suffered, physically or mentally. I sympathise sincerely with those who live in fear.

It is also a time where quiet heroism and resilience have shone out. The generosity, adaptability and community spirit displayed by so many are the things I want to hold onto; it is the story of how noble ordinary people can be. I hope that we can all learn from that and create a better kinship with our fellow residents for the future.

On behalf of the Commanding Officer and Ships Company of HMS Albion we would like to offer our best wishes and love to our afflicted city of Chester as we all safely navigate through this global pandemic. Our deepest sympathies go to everyone who has lost a family member, friend or loved one due to COVID-19.

As the New Year dawns it is filled with fresh hope and new opportunity, and when the time comes we look forward to building on our affiliation and sharing our experiences of these challenging times. As always, you are in our thoughts.

From HMS Albion