Touching tributes were paid at a memorial in Old Market Square to the hundreds of people from Nottingham who died during the Covid pandemic. The memorial, organised by Nottingham City Council, comes as the total number of deaths across the city nears 1,000.
Taking place on Saturday afternoon (April 2), the memorial included a minute’s silence and speeches from faith leaders and civic guests, including the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of Nottingham. City council leader, Councillor David Mellen, was joined by representatives from the NHS, police, universities and community and voluntary groups.
Cllr Mellen said: “Covid has taken an awful toll on our lives; we’ve sacrificed, followed rules and restrictions, and all done our best to stay safe from this terrible virus. I’m saddened that so many people have lost their lives in our city – to approach 1,000 deaths is a tragic milestone."
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The event followed a series of ‘living memorials’ to remember the people who have died from Covid in Nottingham since the start of the pandemic, which is now approaching 1,000 deaths. A Covid Memorial Tree was recently planted at the Forest Recreation Ground – site of Covid vaccinations and testing – and Forget-me-not seeds were given to every primary school and made available free to the public from libraries to create an annual city-wide bloom. A Covid Memorial Garden is to be created in Bulwell Forest, while 1,000 trees will be planted across the city to represent those who have died.
Cllr Mellen added: "It is important that we do everything we can to stop this death toll from rising any higher. Covid is still present in our city and in the wider country; we must continue to take steps to live safely with the virus.”
Mel Barrett, chief executive of the city council, said: "Moments like this are important, where we join together to pause and reflect on the collective journey we have all taken over the past two years. Our response to Covid has involved all of us, so it is only right that we stand here together on this day, to remember all that we have done and all those we have lost.
"Covid has taken a huge toll on our city, as we approach 1,000 deaths from the virus we felt it was important to create a lasting memorials for those that have died." People at the memorial said that everyone had been impacted by the virus in some way.
Ali Kassem, 60, who is retired and lives in Nottingham, said: "I think a lot people know someone who is gone. It's very sad and everyone has shared it. You know someone that has died or has been made very ill by the virus. Passing 1,000 deaths would have been very surprising to us I think before."
While another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, added: "The number of deaths is scary, isn't it. Heading towards 1,000 deaths in the city. I'm a bit worried about the rates going up again. It could get worse again it looks like I think we've ignored it for a while."
In February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his plan to end all remaining Covid restrictions, with self isolation no longer a legal requirement for those who test positive. But the relaxation triggered concerns from doctors in Nottinghamshire.
