One year on – a day to remember and reflect

A special commemoration and a minute’s silence will be held by Blackburn with Darwen Council to mark a National Day of Reflection – remembering those who have sadly lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic and to support everyone who has lost a loved one.

The National Day of Reflection will take place on Tuesday, March 23^rd – the one year anniversary of the UK going into the first national lockdown. The day has been initiated by end of life charity Marie Curie Cancer Care and has the backing of the Government.

The Council is inviting people to observe a minute’s silence at noon on Tuesday to remember the last year which has affected us all, encouraging everyone to find a moment to reflect on the pandemic and its effects in their own way.

Blackburn Town Hall will be lit up in yellow on Tuesday evening to further show our support of the day and the people who have been bereaved in the past year.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan, and Chief Executive Denise Park will lead the minute’s silence at Blackburn Town Hall, but to carry on keeping everyone as safe as possible, people are being encouraged to mark the occasion safely and within the current restrictions rather than gather at the town hall.

There will also be a national doorstep vigil, at 8pm on the same day, and people can join their neighbours and hold a candle, a light or your mobile phone to remember those lost.

Also on Tuesday, March 23^rd, Blackburn Cathedral will be hosting a Day of Prayer and Reflection marking the anniversary of the national lockdown.  As part of the events they will be lighting a candle for every person who has died of COVID or COVID related issues across the county of Lancashire – it is estimated over 3000 candles will be lit.

The Cathedral will be open from 10am to 4pm providing an opportunity for people to momentarily stop, pray and remember.  There will be a simple short opening act of worship at 10am with brief prayers on the hour, every hour during the day.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan, will join Blackburn MP Kate Hollern, the CEO of Blackburn Hospital, staff from the vaccination centre at the Cathedral, and a number of other dignitaries from across the town and county, at 10am for a short remembrance of those lost in the last year.

Denise Park, Chief Executive of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Many of us have lost someone close to us during this pandemic or been affected by this in some way, and it is important to come together to honour their memories and show support to people who have been affected during the pandemic.

We don’t have to gather together to do this – you can have a moment to reflect and remember wherever you are, and mark the unprecedented losses we’ve seen this year and show support for everyone who has been bereaved in this incredibly difficult and challenging year.”

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:

Everyone’s lives have been affected in some way during this past year, and tragically many people have lost loved ones, friends, and neighbours.

This Day of Reflection gives us a chance to take a minute and reflect on the last year and all the changes and events it has brought. It is also a chance to celebrate the lives of the people we have lost, to remember them fondly and to look forward to a more hopeful time as we carry on with the vaccine success, start to move out of restrictions and see a better future on the horizon.”