Latest news with #NationalCovidMemorialWall
Saudi Gazette
10-03-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Loved ones remembered on fifth anniversary of start of Covid
LONDON — Former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen said that "a shadow passed over us" and recited a moving poem of Covid pandemic memories to mark the fifth anniversary since the outbreak of the deadly virus. Emotional scenes played out across the UK on Sunday as the bereaved and their communities hosted hundreds of events to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the pandemic in a day of reflection. Rosen, 78, was rushed to hospital with Covid and put into an induced coma in intensive care in March 2020. Speaking at a memorial event in Staffordshire, the poet said "thanks to the expertise and care I received, I came through, but I look back over my shoulder and think of those who didn't". The annual day is one of the recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "As we mark five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I know for many there is deep grief and loss that may never be relieved." In London, sobbing could be heard as bereaved relatives, led by a Highland piper, joined well wishers to walk beside the National Covid Memorial Wall. They passed 3,000 photographs of the faces of some of those who died, which represents just over 1% of the total death toll from Covid in the UK, organisers said. Choir song and a water cannon salute on the Thames from a London Fire Brigade fireboat brought the event to a close. A minute's silence was held after the chimes of Big Ben and long-stemmed red carnations were cast into the River Thames. Lynn Jones fought back tears as she remembered her "fit and healthy" 66-year-old husband Gareth who died after "spending seven weeks in hospital battling the virus on his own". She told those gathered at the London event that the Covid wall "is an expression of so many emotions — rage, love, grief, pain and unbearable sadness". Sisters Colette Woodall, Julie Harvey, and Jacquie McEvoy — who were originally from Liverpool — travelled from their homes in London and Wiltshire to pay their respects to their mother Joan Aspinall, who died in September 2021. "So many people here are traumatised by what has happened," Ms Woodall said. "Today has been absolutely poignant." She added: "It is important for us to be here to represent all of those faces on the wall and to be among like-minded people, some of whom are very angry and upset." Well-wishers at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-on-Trent heard a new poem from the writer, poet, broadcaster and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen, who spent time in hospital with Covid during the pandemic and was placed into an induced coma. "A shadow passed over us and hundreds of thousands of people felt the sudden and unexpected loss of loved ones," he said. "Thanks to the expertise and care I received, I came through, but I look back over my shoulder and think of those who didn't" he said. Across the UK, just under 227,000 people died who had the virus listed as a cause of death — with more than 16,000 in Scotland and more than 12,300 people in Wales. Mary Kedward in Newport is a retired nurse who has reflected on her role helping out during the pandemic at Cambridge's Royal Papworth Hospital and later in the south-Wales city. Ms Kedward said she vaccinated people in the Welsh valleys and "that was the best bit, talking to the housebound as they hadn't seen people for months", adding that it was a "privilege". She adds that her mother died of Covid-19 in a care home and she "did not have a proper funeral", but instead had a remembrance on the video-calling platform Skype. Families who lost loved ones said on Thursday that they were angry there would be no nationwide anniversary events in Wales today, but the Welsh government has previously said events were being led by community groups. Maureen Oxley, who lives near Blackpool, said her and her husband separated in 2018 but at the end of February 2020, he invited her to stay with him during the first lockdown "so that we could not face it alone". She told the BBC that she would "never forget" the address Boris Johnson delivered to the nation and the Queen's address. "We sat and held hands as we watched and wondered what the future held," Ms Oxley added. "We shall never forget those days," she said. "It was bittersweet but we are grateful we came out of the other end together." In Scotland, a choir sang and a poem was read to take people into a minute's silence at the reflection event in Glasgow Green. Doves were released and the event also included a wreath being laid, a plaque unveiling and individual yellow roses being left in memory of loved ones. Earlier, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who took part in the Glasgow ceremony, sent his "deepest condolences" to people who lost loved ones during the pandemic. Speaking before the service he added: "Children stopped going to school, many shops and businesses were closed, and we were no longer able to spend time with friends and family as normal." The ceremony was organized by Connie McCready, who is the co-founder of Covid-19 families Scotland. Her fiance, Jim Russell, died in May 2020 after spending 35 days in hospital and was one of many remembered at the event. "This day of reflection is a time to remember that behind every statistic, there is a person," she said. "For every family member and community affected, we reflect on their pain, their love and their enduring grief." Other events include a special prayer service at Manchester Cathedral and a remembrance concert with music, poems and readings in Belfast. — BBC
The Independent
09-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Nation unites in a day of reflection to mark fifth anniversary of Covid-19
Emotional scenes were played out across the nation as the bereaved and communities came together in a day of reflection to mark the five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Sunday, towns and cities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland hosted hundreds of events where the pain, grief, compassion and sacrifice of those difficult times was remembered. Those who died were remembered and the chance was also taken to pay tribute to the frontline health and social care workers, volunteers and researchers who played crucial roles. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'As we mark five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I know for many there is deep grief and loss that may never be relieved. 'Today, we come together to remember, reflect and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by people across our country.' The annual day is one of the recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, which counts King's College Hospital nurse Felicia Kwaku as a commissioner. She recalled Covid's cruel cost as she recounted the anxiety of frontline workers, saying: 'I remember comforting and consoling many, many loved ones and patients. 'Some patients knew that they were going to pass and some patients didn't. I remember many of us not stopping crying for at least two to three years. 'It was very, very difficult (then) and it's difficult being here now.' She added that 'you didn't know whether you were going to get catch Covid, but I remember the teamwork bringing us all together.' In London, sobbing could be heard as bereaved relatives, led by a Highland piper, joined well wishers to walk beside the National Covid Memorial Wall. They passed 3,000 photographs of the faces of some of those who died, which represents just over 1% of the total death toll in the UK, organisers said. The event was brought to an end with a song from a choir and a salute on the river from the London Fire Brigade fireboat. A minute's silence was held after the chimes of Big Ben and long-stemmed red carnations were cast into the River Thames. Lynn Jones fought back tears as she remembered her 'fit and healthy' 66-year-old husband Gareth, 'a loved principal' in their hometown of Stoke on Trent, who died after 'spending seven weeks in hospital battling the virus on his own'. She told those gathered at the London event that in April 2021, there were 152,816 hearts on the wall marking a Covid tragedy and now there are 247,553 hearts. Applause broke out, as she said: 'For me, this wall is an expression of so many emotions – rage, love, grief, pain and unbearable sadness. 'It is also important as an expression of democracy, because this is what the people affected most by the pandemic feel. 'It is a message to those across the water that this is what happens when you get it wrong. It should stay as a constant reminder of the impact of government decisions.' Sisters Colette Woodall, Julie Harvey and Jacquie McEvoy, originally from Liverpool, travelled from their homes in London and Wiltshire to pay their respects to their 80 year-old mother Joan Aspinall at the memorial by the River Thames. Their retired hotelier mother died in September 2021. Ms Woodall said: 'So many people here are traumatised by what has happened. Today has been absolutely poignant. 'It is important for us to be here to represent all of those faces on the wall and to be among like-minded people, some of whom are very angry and upset.' Writer, poet, broadcaster and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen later said it was 'an honour' to have been part of the event in Burton-on-Trent, where he read a new poem and people got to share their feelings about what happened. Mr Rosen, who was rushed to hospital with Covid and put into an induced coma in intensive care for 48 days, said: 'A shadow passed over us and hundreds of thousands of people felt the sudden and unexpected loss of loved ones. He added: 'Thanks to the expertise and care I received, I came through, but I look back over my shoulder and think of those who didn't. 'They were people who were with me in hospital or who didn't even get to hospital – companions of a sort. We owe it to them and their families to remember them.' Soprano Lesley Garrett was among the performers and the difficult days during the pandemic were recalled in testimonials from NHS staff, patients and volunteers and senior healthcare figures including chief nursing officer Duncan Burton. A choir sang and a poem was read to take people into a minute's silence at the reflection event in Glasgow Green. Doves were released and the event also included a wreath being laid, a plaque unveiling and individual yellow roses being left in memory of loved ones. Earlier, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who took part in the Glasgow ceremony, sent his 'deepest condolences' to people who lost loved ones during the pandemic. Across the UK, just under 227,000 people died who had the virus listed as a cause of death – with more than 16,000 in Scotland. Before Sunday's service in Glasgow, Mr Swinney said: 'Children stopped going to school, many shops and businesses were closed, and we were no longer able to spend time with friends and family as normal. 'Tragically, thousands of people lost their lives, and I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones in such difficult circumstances.' Mabon ap Gwynfor, a Plaid Cymru politician and Member of the Senedd, said there had been a 'poignant' commemoration at Hafod y Bwch and Erddig where 'the stories shared were moving and important to remember'. Many tributes were held locally but, he added, it was 'disappointing' that the government in Wales had failed to organise an official event.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nation unites in a day of reflection to mark fifth anniversary of Covid-19
Emotional scenes were played out across the nation as the bereaved and communities came together in a day of reflection to mark the five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. On Sunday, towns and cities across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland hosted hundreds of events where the pain, grief, compassion and sacrifice of those difficult times was remembered. Those who died were remembered and the chance was also taken to pay tribute to the frontline health and social care workers, volunteers and researchers who played crucial roles. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'As we mark five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I know for many there is deep grief and loss that may never be relieved. 'Today, we come together to remember, reflect and pay tribute to the sacrifices made by people across our country.' The annual day is one of the recommendations set out by the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. In London, sobbing could be heard as bereaved relatives, led by a Highland piper, joined well wishers to walk beside the National Covid Memorial Wall. They passed 3,000 photographs of the faces of some of those who died, which represents just over 1% of the total death toll in the UK, organisers said. The event was brought to an end with a song from the choir and a salute on the river from the London Fire Brigade fireboat. A minute's silence was held after the chimes of Big Ben and long-stemmed red carnations were cast into the River Thames. Lynn Jones fought back tears as she remembered her 'fit and healthy' 66-year-old husband Gareth, 'a loved principal' in their hometown of Stoke on Trent, who died after 'spending seven weeks in hospital battling the virus on his own'. She told those gathered that at the London event that in April 2021, there were 152,816 hearts marking a Covid tragedy and now there are 247,553 hearts. Applause broke out, as she said: 'For me, this wall is an expression of so many emotions – rage, love, grief, pain and unbearable sadness. It is also important as an expression of democracy, because this is what the people affected most by the pandemic feel. 'It is a message to those across the water that this is what happens when you get it wrong. It should stay as a constant reminder of the impact of government decisions.' Well wishers at the National Memorial Arboretum in Burton-on-Trent heard a new poem from the writer, poet, broadcaster and former Children's Laureate Michael Rosen. He was rushed to hospital with Covid and put into an induced coma in intensive care for 48 days. Singer Lesley Garrett was among the performers and the difficult days during the pandemic were recalled in testimonials from NHS staff, patients and volunteers and senior healthcare figures including chief nursing officer Duncan Burton. A choir sang and a poem was read to take people into a minute's silence at the reflection event in Glasgow Green. Doves were released and the event also included a wreath being laid, a plaque unveiling and individual yellow roses being left in memory of loved ones. Earlier, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who took part in the Glasgow ceremony, sent his 'deepest condolences' to people who lost loved ones during the pandemic. Across the UK, just under 227,000 people died who had the virus listed as a cause of death – with more than 16,000 in Scotland. Before Sunday's service in Glasgow, Mr Swinney said: 'Children stopped going to school, many shops and businesses were closed, and we were no longer able to spend time with friends and family as normal. 'Tragically, thousands of people lost their lives, and I offer my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones in such difficult circumstances.'
