Community memorial unveiled on National Day of Reflection for Covid-19

A new memorial dedicated to those affected by the Covid 19 pandemic is being unveiled in Redditch as part of the UK-wide Day of Reflection on Sunday (8 March).

Redditch Borough Council has installed the new permanent memorial at Abbey Cemetery, outside the crematorium. It provides a quiet place for residents to reflect, remember those who lost their lives, and acknowledge the impact of the pandemic on the community.

It marks six years since the pandemic began, in March 2020, and its profound impact on people and communities across the country.

Redditch’s memorial forms part of a national programme of commemoration, encouraging communities to come together to remember the lives lost and the sacrifices made to protect each other during the pandemic.

People in Redditch can personalise the memorial by requesting their own metal plaque bearing a message. Civic messages of thanks from Redditch have been included to the NHS, funeral directors, volunteers, and other key workers who supported residents and kept essential services running during the pandemic.

The Mayor of Redditch, Cllr Joanna Kane, said: “Six years on from the arrival of the pandemic, this memorial provides a dedicated place for remembrance and reflection, recognising both those we lost and the people who supported our community during an incredibly difficult time.”

The memorial will be open to the public from Sunday 8 March.

Inscriptions can be requested for just a nominal fee by contacting the borough council’s Bereavement Services team.

Pictured above

Cllr Joanna Kane, the Mayor of Redditch, alongside Cllr Sharon Harvey, the Leader of Redditch Borough Council, and Adam Smith, the council’s Bereavement Services Manager, at the memorial.