We need virus remembrance day to ease pain of those who couldn’t say goodbye to loved ones
Gavin & Stacey star Alison’s plea to PM
CELEBRITIES and politicians last night called on Boris Johnson to honour those who have died during the pandemic with a national day of remembrance.
After Life star Ricky Gervais, Gavin & Stacey’s Alison Steadman and Strictly’s Craig Revel Horwood are among the famous faces backing a campaign to commemorate the lives of those who have died during lockdown.
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories have thrown their weight behind the bid launched by the charity Marie Curie UK and backed by the Sunday Mirror.
Comedian Ricky, who plays a griefstricken husband in After Life, said: “Everyone needs time to grieve and heal.
“The pandemic has meant thousands of people haven’t been able to say goodbye to loved ones in the way they would have wanted. Many haven’t got to hold their nearest and dearest. To have a day that officially honours those people – in whatever form – would be a wonderful celebration of their lives.”
More than 204,000 people died in the UK during lockdown – equating to one million people bereaved.
From March to June, 65,000 were recorded as “excess deaths”, including more than 45,000 coronavirus victims.
Grieving families were unable to comfort each other, with mourners limited to between 10 and 15 people at crematoriums and graveyards.
Most funeral homes were unable to offer viewings. Marie Curie, which gives support to families living with terminal illness, wants the Government to mark the UK’s loss on the first anniversary of lockdown, March 23, 2021.
Chief executive Matthew Reed said it would be“an important reminder of our responsibility to our communities”.
They have launched a petition to get people to support the idea with the hashtag #UniteInMemory, with almost 10,000 people adding their signatures so far. The charity is keen to look at ideas for an “inclusive” act of remembrance.
This could range from a service such as the one observed for Remembrance Sunday, or a communal act such as the Thursday night clapping that rang out for NHS workers during lockdown.
The charity’s ambassador Alison Steadman lost a relative to Covid-19. Alison, 73, said: “The funeral was delayed and there could only be a small number of people. I worry there will be a tide of emotion from people bereaved and they will carry that throughout their lives.
“After going through the scariest period of our lifetime, a special day could be something nice to come out of the pandemic, just like the Thursday night NHS claps and all the kind deeds.” Actor Greg Wise, comedian Paul Chuckle and commentator Chris Kamara echo her call. Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood
suggested