Today is being held as a national day of reflection to mark a year since the lockdown in the UK began… and to commemorate all those lost to Covid.
This evening we are invited to shine a light…
At 8pm we'll hold a minute's silence and come together to light up the night. Stand outside with a light – a candle, a torch, even your phone - to remember someone who's died and show your support to people going through a bereavement. Alternatively you can shine a light in your window for everyone to see.
At midday, along with thousands of others in their homes, I observed a time of silence in my lounge, reflecting on those who have died. A poignant powerful time of remembering, grieving and paying.
Marie Curie and partners invite us to observe a national day of reflection. They say, “Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved. Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind. Join us today to reflect on our collective loss, support those who've been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future. There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise. This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we're facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.”
Flower, handmade by a member of New Maria Congregational Church, Neath, South Wales