I Remember…

The Herald is fundraising for a national memorial to remember those who lost their lives to Covid, and to support those who are grieving loved ones or still living with the effects of long Covid. A site in Glasgow’s Pollok Park has been set aside for a series of structures of ‘support’, designed by poet and artist Alec Finlay, with co-creators Lucy Richards, inclusive designer, and writer Ken Cockburn; you can seem more of the design plans here – https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19793895.scotlands-covid-memorial-first-look-funds-target-announced/

The aims of the project are to:

• Create significant memorial sites in Pollok Country Park – the Riverside Grove, Beech Grove, Hillside Grove and Birch Grove.
• Link 50 oak tree supports to offer the idea of a memorial walk in the park.
• Provide ‘I remember’ audio accessed through QR codes on supports. The key message of the memorial, ‘I remember’, will be displayed in several languages.
• Invite those affected to become involved in memorial planting at dedicated sites.
• Help the memorial evolve to have a satellite concept across Scotland.

Alongside the physical memorial, Alec is collecting people’s experiences of living through the pandemic with a simple form of reflection that begins with the phrase, ‘I remember’. It is hoped that these will become part of a book and website to further provide spaces for grieving, for remembrance, and for healing. Some examples of the powerful and poignant memories submitted so far can be found here – http://www.i-remember.uk/

In order to contribute your own, please submit it to iremember2021@yahoo.com