Winchester Cathedral taking part in National Day of Reflection

The cross installation is adorned with daffodils and spring flowers and surrounded by candles and has been set up to remember those who have died during the pandemic.

The day of reflection marks the one-year anniversary since the UK went into the first lockdown due to Covid-19.

The day is being led by end-of-life charity Marie Curie, which hopes to bring the whole of the UK together to reflect on the collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

Gardeners work on a green meadow cross, which is to be adorned with daffodils and spring flowers and surrounded by candles, in the Nave of Winchester Cathedral, ahead of the National Day of Reflection to remember those

The cathedral will be observing a minute’s silence at 12 noon and local residents are invited to light a candle and pray throughout the day. In addition to this, TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh MBE will also be doing a special reading on the day.

The Dean of Winchester, the Very Revd Catherine Ogle, said: “Winchester Cathedral will be supporting the National Day of Reflection to remember those who have died during the pandemic, and to show support for everyone who has been bereaved. This annual day allows us to come together, to reflect and commemorate the lives of everyone that has died during this time, from Covid and other causes, to pray for them, and to stand in solidarity. We invite you to join the live-streamed minute’s silence at 12 noon, and the special Evensong, taking place around the cross at 5.30pm to reflect on the unprecedented loss and to stand with those who are grieving”.

Gardeners work on a green meadow cross, which is to be adorned with daffodils and spring flowers and surrounded by candles, in the Nave of Winchester Cathedral, ahead of the National Day of Reflection to remember those

Also supporting the national day is NHS worker Chris Lubbe, 58, originally from South Africa, now based in Hampshire.

Shockingly, Chris has experienced 10 deaths during the pandemic after four very close friends, aunts, cousins and his sister Margie died. Chris found out about the death of his sister over Whatsapp and had to watch the funeral over Zoom.

Sharing his experience Chris said: “Being bereaved during the pandemic has been really hard and it’s complicated my grief because I couldn’t be there and I couldn’t be close to the body. In South African tradition you actually say goodbye to the person. You come face to face, and you touch the face before the person gets buried so being unable to do that was difficult and strange for me.

“It’s hard to comprehend others’ grief as all we see are statistics on the TV and I’m struggling to feel like my grief has been recognised. I’m supporting Marie Curie’s National Day of Reflection as I feel there needs to be some sort of recognition of those who have died during this pandemic, and those who have been left behind bereaved.

“We need to mark the loss of life, because otherwise how do we come to terms with the fact that it’s happened? On the 23rd March, I will take a moment to reflect, together with my family, we are going to sit in the garden and just listen to the elements. We may just go to the seaside as a family because Margie loved the sea, we’ll take a photo of her and just take some time to remember her life.”

Marie Curie chief executive Matthew Reed said: “We need to mark the huge amount of loss we’ve seen this year and show support for everyone who has been bereaved in the most challenging of circumstances – be that from Covid or any other cause. We invite everyone to join together on the 23rd March to reflect, remember and celebrate the lives of everyone that has died during these challenging times.”