Over the last year many of us have put rainbows in our windows or acknowledged the NHS and its staff in one way or another. One of our readers has launched a poster campaign to celebrate all those that have died during the COVID-19 pandemic. Barbara Worsley tells Welsh Country her story and the reasons behind the campaign and posters.
I am writing to you in the hope that you will agree to support me with a poster campaign to remember all those who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspiration
Losing someone you love is hard enough, but if you lost them during the COVID-19 pandemic then, this probably means that you were unable to visit them, and were faced with major restrictions when arranging their funeral and wake. I was able to say goodbye to my mother in hospital, and arrange with my family a fitting funeral and wake for her in January 2020.
I feel genuinely heartbroken for all those who have been denied the opportunity to truly say goodbye to their loved ones. As we watch in horror as the death toll rises daily, we are all well aware of the effects that the pandemic and the associated lockdowns are having on people’s mental health of all ages and backgrounds, and unlike many other significant events in our lives, a funeral cannot be rearranged. Whilst this poster campaign will never truly compensate them for their loss, I hope that the simple gesture by the general public and businesses of displaying this poster in their windows will let them know that their heart breaking suffering has not gone unnoticed.
Choice of logo
I decided on a Robin as the logo for the following reasons:
- According to the RSPB the Robin is the UK’s favourite bird, and as the UK includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland it is universally loved throughout our Nation.
- The Robin is also a symbol of hope.
- Many people believe that when you see a Robin it is a loved one who has died visiting you.
How can you support the campaign?
- By placing the posters on all your media platforms.
- By making your readers aware of the campaign, and how they can obtain the poster.
- By asking your readers to display this poster in their windows for others to see.
- Asking the individual to pass the poster onto their own friends, family and business contacts so that they too have the opportunity to join the campaign, should they wish to.
Conclusion
I just wanted to do something, and so I commissioned a young artist to produce these two posters, one that is blank for colouring in, and the other in colour ready for display. I have full copyright permissions, therefore if you wish to add your own media addresses on to these posters, to enable others to download them, then you have my permission to do so.
