THE past year has been blighted by the big, black cloud of Covid, but Zoom has shone a glimmer of light.

Embraced by young and old, the tech-savvy and the Luddites in equal measure, we have much for which to thank technology in these times of lockdown.

Virtual conferencing has brought work into my front room – and only once have I been caught in my jammies when the boss Teams called after 7pm (which can be dangerously close to my bedtime in these strange times and dark days).

It’s brought Zoom quizzing, Zoom church fellowship and Zoom college. It can be a challenge teaching 20 plus students in a grid of wee tiles – worse when half of them have their cameras off and you’re faced with a sea of black squares (I have challenged them all to attend class with cardboard boxes over their heads when we’re finally back on campus!).

But it’s worked remarkably well, although there’s one lad I’ve yet to see upright since he spends the entire session horizontal on his bed. Give him his due, however – he participates enthusiastically and never misses a class, so I’ll take that.

Scarier still, this past week has brought Zoom fitness classes. These are fun and very welcome in our gym-free world, especially on these dreich February days when the pouring rain makes outdoor exercise less than appealing.

I’m afraid, though, these sessions mean it’s my turn to switch off my camera to avoid Lycra-shame.

And now Zoom has brought us Jackie Weaver.

The council official has been at the centre of a social media storm after a virtual parish council meeting spiralled into chaos.

WEAVER, despite being a little shocked at finding such fame, has had “nothing but positive support” after remaining calm on the Zoom call which had insults, hysterical laughter and members being kicked out.

She said she had only been called in to host councillors at Handforth Parish Council in Cheshire.

An edited version of the planning and environment meeting on December 10 emerged on Twitter last week and soon became a “must see”, watched and shared by millions.

During the heated meeting, Weaver kept her cool amid some members being abusive and muttering under their breath as others tried to speak, laughter and participants answering phone calls.

When chairman Brian Tolver labelled himself as the “clerk”, Weaver said: “The chairman simply declared himself clerk and notified everybody of the case.

“There is no way of stopping him from calling himself clerk. Please refer to me as Britney Spears from now on.”

Then Tolver, who refused to recognise the legitimacy of the meeting, was removed from the meeting and placed in a virtual waiting room after saying: “You have no authority here Jackie Weaver.”

Councillor Aled Brewerton weighed in as vice-chairman saying he should take charge of the meeting and shouted: “Read the standing orders – read them and understand them!”

He was also sent to the waiting room.

All Weaver, chief officer of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils, was meant to be doing was giving “support” to parish councillors to hold meetings.

Little thanks she got for that.

She should just have told them to away and mute themselves.