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Families reflect on loss at Covid-19 commemoration

Phil Cunliffe & Rumeana Jahangir
BBC News
BBC Overhead view of people walking through an art installation of paper lanterns in St George's Hall.BBC
Bereaved relatives were given space to remember their loved ones at St George's Hall

Hundreds of people have gathered at Liverpool's St George's Hall as part of the inaugural national Covid-19 Day of Reflection, marking five years since the pandemic began.

The city's lord mayor Richard Kemp described it as a "bittersweet set of memories – bitter because we recall those that died, some of them quite tragically, and those who mourn the people who died.

"But also sweet memories of things that came positively out of it... neighbours who looked after each other, the way the community gathered round."

Among the visitors was Barbara White, whose 62-year-old husband Mark died in hospital, while their pregnant daughter Kate was also treated at a different hospital for the virus.

"It was very difficult for us all to cope with at the same time," she said. "But we got through."

She was accompanied by Kate and her now four-year-old son, who Kate gave birth to after recovering from the virus, as they left messages in a book of commemoration.

Mrs White said the event at the venue, which was decked out with paper lanterns, was "a lovely way to remember the people we lost to Covid and all the people that supported us at the time - the healthcare and doctors".

Barbara White stands beside the book with candles and paper lanterns glowing in the backdrop inside St George's Hall. She has shoulder-length brown hair and glasses and is wearing a green and white blazer.
Barbara White was among those leaving messages in the book of commemoration

Siblings Paul Imrie and Jenny Young were reflecting on the loss of their 70-year-old mother Linda Imrie, who had been treated for a brain tumour in hospital when she caught the virus.

Mr Imrie said: "I can't believe it's been so long now - there's not a day that goes by when we don't think about her."

Ms Young, who gave birth to a son a year later, said: "I always speak to him about her even though he's three."

Family group picture of Linda Imrie smiling and standing behind her three adult children, who are sitting down in a restaurant.
Paul Imrie (left) and Jenny Young (right) were commemorating the life of their mother Linda (above)

Prof Matthew Ashton, director of public health for Liverpool, said about 2,000 people died with the virus in the city. Nationally, about 227,000 people died with Covid-19.

He said: "The pandemic affected all of our lives and there's a lot of trauma in there as well for people so I completely understand people who really want to move on from that."

He added the event was an "opportunity to reflect on what happened, to air some of their feelings and to make sure that we learn the lessons - as a city but also as a country - to deal with any pandemics in the future".

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