Lockdown at Caius

  • 14 March 2021
  • 7 minutes

On Monday 16 March, 2020, the public were told to work from home if possible and to avoid unnecessary social contact. A week later, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the first Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. To mark the anniversary, we spoke to two Caius students who have spent the majority of the year in College accommodation.

Anthony BridgenAnthony Bridgen (Natural Sciences (Biological) 2014) is the MCR Treasurer and LGBT+ Officer, and has been living in graduate College accommodation and private accommodation in Cambridge in the last 12 months. He is completing his Plant Sciences PhD.

 

 

Cynthia Shen (Psychological and Behavioural Sciences 2019) is a second-year undergraduate who has lived in College accommodation apart from a summer 2020 vacationCynthia Shen at home in California. She is the GCSU Secretary, having been International Officer in 2019-20, where she advocated for improved quarantine conditions, and University organised testing for international students prior to travel.

 

 

What was it like in the days and weeks before the UK entered lockdown?

Anthony: It was weird. There was a lot of tension in my lab with a lot of people not coming in; I guess as scientists, people were a bit more wary.

I organised a handover dinner for the MCR committee at the end of February, and the Girton Spring Ball went ahead. Things were carrying on as normal. We hadn’t quite realised that would be the last time we would have any fun.

Anthony Bridgen and two friends at the Lent 2020 Superhall

Anthony, pictured left, with with Francesco Ceccarelli and Adrian Dörr at the Lent 2020 Superhall

Cynthia: I went out on the Thursday night before term ended; I didn’t go out on the Friday, and I’m glad I didn’t, because some did and got coronavirus afterwards. That was scary.

Towards the end of the Lent Term we were really looking forward to the Easter holidays and travelling around Europe a bit. I was planning to stay in Cambridge for Easter and do a one-week trip around France. Some friends were planning a trip to Belgium.

Countries around Europe were already beginning to lockdown and I spoke to my parents, who are in California. They said ‘why don’t you just go around England instead?’ We knew our plans were diminishing in size, and when lockdown hit it wasn’t a huge surprise.

 

What was your reaction when lockdown was imposed?

Outside the Sainsbury's Laboratory at the Botanic Gardens

Anthony: I was in the middle of a lot of things. I’m always growing experimental plants, and I had to throw away several hundred of them. I was crying, which sounds silly looking back, they’re only plants after all. It was quite manic and the atmosphere uncertain, we didn’t know when we’d be returning. The lab, pictured above, was shut for about three months, until the lockdown ended.

Cynthia: There was a new sense of panic, with friends booking flights to go home, and our parents encouraging us to come back. One of my friends was a resident of a country, but it had already locked down and was only allowing citizens in. I had a tough decision to make, whether to go home, or stay for an uncertain amount of time.

Three of us decided we didn’t want to leave anyone behind, to know that whatever happened at least we’d have each other. As one of us couldn’t leave, we decided to stay. As soon as my friend was able to leave, we made arrangements too.

 

How did you feel about your surroundings during lockdown?

A route map of Anthony Bridgen's first lockdown run

Anthony: It was my birthday at the start of April, and the day after I started running, pictured above. I found it hard as I hadn’t exercised properly in a year. I built up very slowly, going on really long walks to increase my fitness. I got up to 30-kilometres a week for a few months, which I’ve let slide a little since. I have lost a lot of weight and in that sense it’s been very good for me. It’s given me a sense of control; if I’m stressed, I can just go for a run. Whatever the weather it’s something I can do.

I was living at Harvey Road, so was fortunate enough to have a big garden, pictured below with a fox on the lawn. I was the only person in my house and it was nice to have that space. They’re such big houses it felt strange being there by myself, but it was nice in some ways especially to start with.

A fox on the lawn at Harvey Road

I’ve liked Cambridge as a city a lot more. The first lockdown was as beautiful as I’ve ever experienced the city – not a car in sight and very quiet streets. It was incredibly peaceful and so nice to experience the city like that. It did feel like I was in some sort of disaster film! I usually go into College several times a week and it felt odd to be cut off from Caius in that way; but absence makes the heart grow fonder and I very much enjoyed walking round Old Courts. After six months, it felt like coming home.

 

The balcony in sunshine at Harvey Court

Cynthia: Harvey Court was really empty because it was the holidays, and coupled with the fact it was lockdown meant it was even more quiet. It helped that it was sunny! We were happy to lie out in the sun on the balconies, pictured above, blocking out the rest of the world!

I enjoyed taking walks and exploring the different places in the city, getting outside. Seeing cows was such a joy – I enjoyed going to Coe Fen to enjoy the space.

Cows pictured in a field

I left in June, but northern California was in lockdown, so I swapped one situation for another, and then the wildfires meant there was so much smoke in the air.

I had some periods of isolating in Cambridge, mainly after travel. Each time it’s slightly different. During Michaelmas Term my household had to isolate and that was so hard. I was crying probably every day, because I had work to do, and I couldn’t see my friends – and the November lockdown was announced.

A selection of tins and packet food from the Covid-19 isolation pack

A selection of tins and packet food from the isolation pack

This one, for all of Lent, has been hard. It’s dark and cold and it’s really hard to stay positive. ‘How much longer can I sit in my room and work?’ One thing that has kept me going is scheduling a lot of calls with friends. I make sure I’m contacting at least two other people every week, especially when isolating in term. I could at least have something to look forward to.

I’ve also been enjoying baking cakes, brownies, and using our oven for roast vegetables and we did roasted pork shoulder! I’m opposite Great St Mary’s, so it helps to look out the window to the marketplace, King’s Chapel and Senate House, and the side of Great St Mary’s Church.

 

Have you made any plans for when restrictions are lifted?

Anthony: I find it wise not to be too optimistic these days. Things happen, vaccines can stop being as effective against new variants. Raising your hopes only to have them crushed is a recipe for depression but, saying that, it’s also important not to sink into complete hopelessness. Cautious optimism is the watchword.

It’s probably not wise to make plans – plus I have to write my thesis at some point! It’s rather cruel really, to end the lockdown just as I have to start writing. One thing I want to do as soon as I’m able, is visit my best friend, this will be the longest we’ve ever gone without seeing each other.

Cynthia: I'm really looking forward to the better weather in the Easter holiday, going outside more, walking around, and going on safe picnics with friends. I'm not going to lie, I am not too optimistic about restrictions being fully lifted on the proposed timeline, so I have not made any big plans like I had last Easter holiday. I'm focusing instead on the little things like being able to have picnics and play tennis in the sun.

 

How do you think you will reflect on lockdown in time?

Anthony: It will almost be forgotten as a lost period – I hope so in a way because it hasn’t been actively bad, for me at least. It’s been hard, obviously, struggling with my mental health and missing out on a lot of the social aspects that make life enjoyable, but in many ways it’s just been an intermission, a pause in life. I won’t necessarily see it as a bad thing, but I’ll try to forget about it!

Chocolate brownies on a plate

Chocolate brownies made by Cynthia during lockdown

Cynthia: For me, this was definitely a time of growth and struggle. I think I grew up in a lot of ways. I learned how to cook and was able to cook myself three meals a day for three months; I learned how to be completely on my own; and I learned to find pleasures in the small things when it was hard to be happy. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings, but I hope that I've become a stronger person because of it all. I am also very glad to have been able to spend most of lockdown in Cambridge – funny enough, now I quite prefer Cambridge a bit quieter and more isolated, without the hustle and bustle of term.

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