The top five Hampshire lockdown memories

As Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared we were going into lockdown for three weeks from March, 23, who knew what life had in store for us all.

Six months on, we’ve taken a look back at some of Hampshire's biggest, strangest and down-right outrageous moments:

1.  The epic Banksy tribute in Southampton Hospital

The Banksy piece (Banksy/PA)

The piece, called Game Changer, went on display in a corridor on Level C of Southampton General Hospital.

It shows a boy dressed in dungarees playing with a nurse superhero toy, with figures of Batman and Spiderman in a waste paper basket on the floor.

Banksy left a note for hospital workers, saying: “Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if its only black and white.”

The nurse, wearing a cape, face mask and a white apron featuring a red cross, has her arm raised as if she is flying.

Paula Head from University Hospital Southampton said: "The fact that Banksy has chosen us to recognise the outstanding contribution everyone in and with the NHS is making, in unprecedented times, is a huge honour". 

2. Fundraisers across the county pulling it out of the bag for some amazing causes

Throughout lockdown people across the county felt inspired to give back to the community we all love so much.

Southampton Hospitals Charity raised more than £350,000 for NHS workers as part of a Daily Echo-backed campaign. 

Donations flooded in after the appeal was launched to raise vital funds to support the mental and physcial wellbeing of the staff at the University Hospital Southampton as a result of the coronavirus.  

3. The bundles of joy that made us all smile during lockdown

Amid the misery of the pandemic and the potential loneliness of lockdown, the news stories that made many of us smile were the tales of babies born during the pandemic.

When times were tough and it seemed that we were stuck in a dystopian world, there was nothing quite like seeing fresh new life blooming.

Although the gorgeous bundles of joy could not be shown off in the ‘normal’ way to friends and family, the county enjoyed seeing the charming newborns across The Daily Echo.

4. The reality that this is the new 'normal' and not a dystopian fantasy

During the height of lockdown the government guidelines stated that we had to stay at home, only able to leave under special circumstances. 

As a result, streets across the county were deserted - Southampton was like a ghost town, busy shopping areas and the central train station once filled with people were empty. 

5. This grand gesture from P&O Cruises Britannia

Picture: Chris Maisey

One eveing in March the P&O cruise ship Britannia lit up Southampton with a heartwarming tribute to our wonderful NHS. 

The ships illuminations were in support of the initiatives running at the time to thank our frontline workers.

Clap for our Carers ran for 10 weeks during the height of lockdown and saw us all stand outside our homes or clap out the windows on Thursdays at 8pm.

The initiative went hand in hand with the #lightitblue campaign as a message of thanks to our healthcare heroes, putting their lives on the line for us.

Have we missed off your favourite memory? Let us know in the comments.