A spectrum of NHS healthcare heroes began to give freedom to many of Farnham’s most vulnerable patients.

Elderly residents and their carers were queuing up before 8am to have their Covid-19 vaccine, as the town’s community vaccination hub opened its doors on Friday.

Almost 1,000 over-80s attended the bespoke clinic at Farnham Hospital in the ensuing three days – with the clinic’s next batch of vaccines anticipated in early January.

First in line was Michael Collins, 83, who had his jab as soon as the facility opened on Friday.

He said: “It’s some relief. I’ve been in isolation since March with my wife Nancy. For the past year we have lived sort of locked in.”

Mr Collins, who used to work for Mobile Oil’s marine division, cares for his wife, who is a former nurse and who used to work at the old Farnham Hospital.

He said of the vaccine: “I think it will bring a normal life as we used to know it and it will stop these awful death rates. That will be the greatest thing.”

Ronald Keens, 88, and wife Dorothy, 86, were also among the first to get their doses of the vaccine.

Mr Keens said he was “delighted” to have the jab. “The thought we will be free to go and visit our children is great,” he said.

“It has been a difficult year. Our hopes are for the country to get back on its feet.”

Ninety-year-old Frederick Ford and his wife, 88-year-old Christel, were also at Farnham Hospital for their first doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine.

Frederick, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers, enjoyed spells in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia (when it was still Malaya), Cypress, Northern Ireland and Germany during his service.

His 37-year military career meant he was able to withstand what 2020 had thrown at him. He said: “You just accept what’s going on. I don’t need to do anything. I can go in my front door and lock it down.”

The Fords have followed social-distancing guidance throughout, meaning even visiting family members haven’t been allowed indoors.

Mr Ford said: “I hope we can get back to normal. We have stuck to the rules all the time and I hope we can see the pandemic through.”

Sheila Bursey, 86, was taken to have her vaccine by her daughter Lorraine, who cares for her.

Sheila said: “I feel on top of the world.”

Sheila, who used to work as a cleaner at the old Farnham police station and lives with her daughter in Frensham, said she has been doing a lot of reading to fill her time but was looking forward to properly welcoming family members back into her home.

She said: “My son’s an upholsterer, so he goes into people’s houses, so I can’t let him come into mine. I speak to him but I say ‘Sorry, you still can’t come in’.”

Dr Ed Wernick, the GP leading Farnham’s response to Covid-19, said about the beginning of the vaccination programme: “It’s going really well.

“We’ve had everyone turning up for their appointments and there’s a mix of happiness, excitement and relief, as we’re catering to people who are over 80 and therefore at high risk from Covid-19, so many of them have essentially shut themselves away for most of this year to protect themselves.

“I’d like to thank all of those who have been involved in supporting the vaccinations, from the clinical and administrative staff from Farnham’s GP practices, to other NHS colleagues and to the local voluntary sector who have been supporting us as marshals.

“There’s some great teamwork going on and many people have given up their own time to make this happen.

“Many people are hoping the vaccine will bring about a return to normality, and I would echo that – but I would also say it is not going to happen overnight.

“The vaccination programme is going to be a lengthy process and I would ask local people to be patient and not to contact their GP practice for an appointment. Everyone will be contacted directly in due course.

“In the meantime, it’s really important people continue to follow the Hands, Face, Space infection control guidelines.”