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A day to remember those we have lost, six months since the UK’s first coronavirus death.
On 5th March 2020, the BBC reported that a 70-year-old woman had become the first Briton to die of COVID-19. She would not be the last. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported in June that excess deaths in England and Wales reached 65,000. These deaths have been attributed to Covid-19 both directly and indirectly.
On 5th September — 6 months and tens of thousands of lives – on we will take a moment to come together to remember & mourn those we have lost.
There will be candlelit vigils and socially distanced services of remembrance around the country. People are putting pictures of candles in their windows — similar to the rainbows that appeared in windows in support of NHS and health-care workers.
Please show your support for the loved ones we lost as a nation and give your own gesture of support on Saturday 5th September at 8 p.m.
Stefan Simanowitz, Covid Memorial Day
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We at the Covid19 Memorial Forest Fund fully support this idea and are working in partnership with Covid Memorial Day (@CovidMemoryDay) and NHS Support group ‘Help Us Help Them’ (https://www.helpthemhelpus.co.uk/) to organise and promote the day.
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There will be candlelit vigils and socially distanced services of remembrance around the country, held after sundown in cities, towns and villages. Support is being provided to faith groups, community groups and bereaved families up and down the country to arrange their own events.
The main service will be held at Newington Green Unitarian Church on the 5th September at 5pm, followed by a candlelit vigil in Trafalgar Square, North Terrace at 8pm.
Please join us at both the service and vigil, these are a non-political event to remember loved ones who have been lost and everyone is welcome. The events are intended for anyone who wants to take part in this collective moment of mourning.
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Please show your support so that we can remember and heal together as a nation. You can show your support by any of the following:
1. Attend or organise a service or vigil if you can.
2. Post your own pictures of Candles in your windows, in the same way, you posted pictures of rainbows.
3. Light a candle at 8 p.m. on Saturday 5th and place this in your window to mark the hour. But be safe of course, we don’t want to make the fire service busy 🙂
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Everything is being done on an entirely voluntary basis. Anyone wishing to donate can visit the Covid19 Memorial Forest Fund’s donation page or Help Them Help Us website.
Salmaan Nasser, Covid19 Memorial Forest Fund
The 5th September is one day, but with your help we can also create lasting tributes and memorials.
How do I find the nearest vigil to Durham
Due to social distancing people have been holding their own vigils up and down the country.
Dear Organisers,
My sister and I lost our mum to Covid back in April. This evening we came up to Trafalgar Square to join the 8pm vigil and there was nothing going on. We waited twenty minutes, asked various people but no knew anything about a Covid memorial. So we came home, but I feel quite dejected. Did the event in Trafalgar Square actually take place? So disappointed.
Hi Caro,
Firstly I am so sorry for your loss, especially as the aim of the day of the remember and to heal, and you were not able to feel any of that. We were event partners with the Covid Memorial Day, and not organisers. The event did take place but I think it may have taken a little longer to get from the Newington Green Church to Trafalgar Square. Here is a tweet of a small gathering: https://twitter.com/CovidMemoryDay/status/1302359704132354049
I am sincerely sorry that you missed the gathering – we should have been better with our updates.
We would like to pledge a tree in memory of your late mother. Please email salmaan@ourheroes.org and I shall make sure that one of the first trees we plant be for your mum.
I look forward to your email and learning about the life of your mother and once again please accept our most sincere apologies.
Salmaan Nasser
I’m so sorry Caro for your loss & for missing you in Trafalgar Sq. As you saw, the North Terrace where we arranged to meet was blocked by police for XR. People who came for the vigil were scattered at first in the square. The group from the service – myself included – only arrived in the Sq at 8.15 (apologies).
Once we had our sign & candles up people joined us & we held the vigil until 9pm. You will see photos hopefully from PA and a segment in it on Sky News. We are so sorry we didn’t see you.
Stefan