IT has been a year to forget, in many instances, with people’s lives in particular being turned upside down with the Covid pandemic.

But our district has remained as upbeat as it could thanks to the resilience and kindness shown by members of our community.

Before the virus became part of daily life - though hopefully for not too much longer - the Craven Herald embarked on a year-long project alongside North Yorkshire County Council to salute the district’s often unsung heroes.

We featured a chosen nominee each month as our Craven Salt of the Earth so we could highlight the kindness they show and bring to fellow residents who need help or benefit from support.

Below are our 12 Salt of the Earth heroes who we revisit over the course of the year to highlight how they show and spread kindness and compassion to many.

Glennis Hobbs was our January recipient and was chosen for her work as a Street Angel, in Skipton.

Glennis, is a retired Methodist preacher. As well as being a Street Angel on Saturday nights - a group organised through Churches Together - she volunteers when Covid restrictions allow at her local library. She has officiated at the Hot Chocolate Club for eight to 11-year-olds at Embsay Methodist Church and was instrumental in setting up a weekly playgroup for mums and children in Hetton.

February’s candidate was Christopher Porter. Despite living with a disability himself, Christopher, from Cross Hills, doesn’t let it get in the way of his passion to help others. Despite spending several days a week helping others for free, he still finds time to do some paid work.

These have included working each Thursday as an admin assistant at Craven Home Care, in Earby, working once a month for Exclusively Inclusive, a voluntary community group based in Skipton, where he has been helping a man in Sutton who has very complex needs.

Salt of the Earth for March was rescue teams from Upper Wharfedale Mountain Rescue Association and Clapham-based Cave Rescue organisation. They were chosen because the volunteers are on hand 24/7 to help people out who have got into trouble on our hills, dales and fells, as well as caving incidents.

April’s Salt of the Earth recipient was Skipton’s Mr Sport, Roger Ingham.

Roger, who received an MBE for services to sport, is a passionate fundraiser for the area’s good causes including Manorlands, meningitis survivor Luke Mortimer, Airedale Hospital and Help for Heroes. During lockdown he co-ordinated Shortbank residents in the weekly ‘Clap for Carers’. He has also been involved for many years with Skipton Gala.

In May the Salt of the Earth was Bentham’s vicar Anne Russell. Reverend Anne, who is responsible for the Anglican ministry in North Craven, set up the town’s Pop-up Pantry to help people out who were suffering financially and mentally during the pandemic.

She rallied a group of around 10 volunteers to help run the facility which was well received.

June’s Salt of the Earth was Boathouse bar manager Brett Butler. During the first lockdown, furloughed Brett returned to his passion of radio broadcasting, setting up his CV19 Show which listeners could tune into live on Facebook.

July’s Salt of the Earth was Skipton Step Into Action group (SSIA) volunteer Trevor Lund who created and motivated a band of around 20 members who meet on Tuesday evenings.

In August we featured Skipton Food Bank manager Phil Sage as our Salt of the Earth. Phil kept the food bank going through thick and thin. She even managed to get special dispensation to purchase more than the limited figure of three items per customer from Asda.

September saw community spirited Sarah Wilson become a Salt of the Earth recipient,

Sarah, also an SSIA member, has been helping support her neighbours in Sunmoor Drive since coronavirus struck. She has also been making masks to support Skipton business Cool Cards and Dogs body, in Silsden. In addition she has made and sold masks in aid of Sutton Hall Care Home. Sarah would chat with neighbours to keep their spirits up as well as running errands for them.

Megan Gillet, a volunteer with Skipton children and young people charity, Selfa, was our October Salt of the Earth recipient. Megan would give up her spare time on Saturdays and occasional days during the week to help the children and young adults at the charity who needed a bit of extra support. Many of the children had complex needs but Meghan took it all in her stride.

November’s Salt of the Earth was chef Ray Marfell.

Ray, who runs Scoff Cafe, at Greatwood and Horseclose Community Centre, went out of his way to ensure customers could still access a two-course meal when Covid rules meant the case had to temporarily close.

He creates affordable meals for around 40 customers each week which a band of volunteers delivers directly to people’s homes.

Our December and last Salt of the Earth is a feature on a remarkable Skipton man, Malcolm Hanson.

Well known for his history blogs, music, writing and ghost walk experiences, he suffered a serious stroke two years ago.

Battling back against the odds, Malcolm is reaching out to fellow stroke patients to encourage them and show them it is possible to get your life back with a little self-help and determination. He aims to do stroke ward visits at hospitals to chat to patients directly when the pandemic is under control.

The above are a just a handful of the many Craven residents and groups who carry out good work on a voluntary basis for those who need help or to help make the district a nicer and safer place to live in.

There are many heroes among us who all deserve a pat on the back for their unstinting work.