And finally, on a more positive note: who could have predicted that 2020 would be the year that a 99-year-old war veteran would raise £33 million ($41.7m) for the UK's National Health Service?

The late, great Tom Moore – known to the nation as "Captain Tom" – had the idea of walking 100 laps of his garden by his 100th birthday in order to raise £1,000 for the NHS.

The then-99-year-old became a national treasure after his charity campaign went viral. He was supported by more than 1.5 million donors and made an unfathomable amount for the NHS, and even received a Guinness World Record for raising the highest-ever total in an individual charity walk.

On his 100th birthday, Captain Tom received more than 150,000 birthday cards and was made an honorary colonel to mark the occasion. He also got to achieve his dream of meeting Queen Elizabeth, receiving a knighthood from her in July 2020.

Now discover the Heroic ways British people raised money for the fight against coronavirus.

Financial news you'd never have predicted before the pandemic