Fran Hall

We can assure you that to the families of the dead represented on our Wall, who were unable to be with their dying loved ones because they obeyed rules made by and then cynically flouted by those in power, it was not just 'a bit of cake'. It was devastating. Breathtaking insensitivity by Madeley.

Proud to be one of the Paddington Four 👊🏻

Last week, following the Government's recent announcement that the Wall is to be preserved, BBC London met up with @franfd.bsky.social and @loreleiking.bsky.social, two of our volunteers and trustees. The piece was then picked up by national news.

Fridays at the wall just wouldn’t be the same without cakes made by Shouty ❤️
@rum7.bsky.social we love you!

A year ago today we were at the #CovidInquiry in support of our fellow bereaved. ❤️

Please take this down. It was traumatic enough at the time for our volunteer, no need to resurrect and re-share it.

Thanks guys. Am furious that this is still a thing. Five years since Steve died from it.

This is such a cool idea - this book is an incredible, powerful chronology of thoughts, reflections & poetry about an extraordinary time, fast receding into the public’s collective memories.

@amycortvriend.bsky.social
@lucygobag.bsky.social
@jennyedkins.bsky.social
@kandidapurnell.bsky.social

It's #buyastrangerabook day!

@covidmemorialwall.bsky.social is offering to buy someone a copy of "When This Is Over : Reflections on an Unequal Pandemic" which has a section on the Wall, including a contribution from a trustee, @franfd.bsky.social

If you'd like a copy, just let us know.

UK only.

Dammit, did I miss these???

We have only just seen this - we are so grateful for the support of our beautiful memorial. ❤️

This is a beautiful initiative @dawnbutlerbrent.bsky.social - would love an update on where we can see the quilt?

Thank you so much for offering to donate any proceeds from a book about it to the National Covid Memorial Wall too, that’s lovely of you.

Thank you for your ongoing support 🙏🏻

A picture of the wall taken from Westminster Bridge

The National Covid Memorial Wall is now a registered charity! ❤️🥳

A quote on a pale green background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people. “Someone we know died at the weekend, he was there on Friday and gone when we expected to see him on Monday. With no funeral, we donated to his chosen charity but other than that he just disappeared. I found that really hard and I know other people did too.”

A quote on a pale beige background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people. “Easy. Simple. Fuss-free. Meant I could plan a decent memorial rather than be held to outdated and rigid social constructions of funerals unchanged since the Victorian times.”

A quote on a pale green background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people. “We were hoping to light a candle or visit a church to remember silently but we were not told that my dad’s body had been taken to the crematorium and he had been cremated.”

A quote on a pale beige background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people. “We were comfortable with our choice and after we marked the time, carried on to work.”

Direct cremation.

Such interesting responses to our questionnaire are coming in, reflecting a wide spectrum of thoughts.

Have you had this experience?

Tell us about it here: www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/direct-crema...

#directcremation

A young woman, a man and a blonde woman in a blue suit sitting in a pew at a crematorium, with a small pale cream dog sitting next to them.

A black Patterdale terrier wearing a red coat standing on its hind legs with its head against a grey woollen coffin in the back of a black hearse. Two women and a man are smiling as they look at the dog.

Dogs at funerals - we love to see them!

When you’re saying goodbye to someone you love and a dog is part of your family, bringing them to the funeral can help everyone.

#funerals
#funeralsmatter
#dogsarefamily

Thank you to journalist Emma Beddington for acknowledging that covid grief is complex, that the covid bereaved - having been deprived of normal mourning rituals - are not ready, may never be ready, to 'celebrate'.

Four people casually dressed carefully holding a grey woollen coffin in their hands overseen by a man in a grey suit. They are in front of a large window overlooking the grounds of a crematorium.

The weight of grief.

Carrying the coffin of someone you love.

They are your person, and if you want to do this, then you can.

Bearing the weight of your person in their coffin can help to imprint the reality of their death as you begin to navigate life without them.

Funerals matter.

Two witw women’s hands touching a cardboard coffin with rope handles, decorated with pictures, with a bouquet of wildflowers on top.

A child’s hand touching a cream felt shroud.

A white man’s hand touching a grey woollen coffin. On top of the coffin is a red mug, a teddy bear and a green and grey rucksack.

Two hands touching a small, cream coloured woollen coffin.

That last touch - such a powerful moment.

Sometimes, people feel unsure about what’s allowed or what’s appropriate at a funeral.

It’s absolutely ok to touch the coffin, to let your hand linger as you say goodbye to your person.

#funeralsmatter

Gill and Kirsten sitting at a pub table. The pub is old-fashioned, with ornate wood pillars and panelling..

Fran laughing at something offscreen.

Michelle and me, each wearing a red heart badge or brooch.

A good day with some of my fellow @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social volunteers - Kirsten, Gill, @franfd.bsky.social, and @rum7.bsky.social. After an encouraging meeting with DCMS about the future of the wall, we took ourselves off for a bevvie and a debrief. There may have been halloumi chips. #london

An empty crematorium with a simple coffin on the catafalque

Direct Cremation.

A rapidly growing alternative to a funeral that is heavily marketed on daytime TV, yet there is little research into how bereaved people feel about it.

We have created an anonymous questionnaire which can be found here:

www.goodfuneralguide.co.uk/direct-crema...

Please share!

An older photo showing the memorial wall covered with painted hearts faded to the palest pink. A woman in a red coat stands in front of the wall, touching photographs strung along the top.

It's hard to believe how faded the hearts were before the Friends of the Wall stepped up to restore them. Our covid dead will never be forgotten. ❤️ #ThrowbackThursday

Volunteer @franfd.bsky.social read this beautiful, difficult poem at the wall during our anniversary event on Saturday. ❤️ #ForOurHusbands

This is an incredibly difficult weekend for the millions of people in the UK who are bereaved by covid. ❤️

Part 3. ❤️

Part 2. ❤️

We're in love with the drone footage of our #DayOfReflection event (taken by the amazing Tolga Akmen) - for those who couldn't be there, here's a bird's eye view. ❤️

Just gorgeous ❤️

We are devastated at this news. We send our deepest sympathies to Ondine's family and friends and to all at @longcovidsos.bsky.social for the loss of this inspirational, brave warrior. ❤️

We are 100% going to do our damnedest tomorrow to place the beautiful souls lost to covid-19 in the memory of the living.

❤️

Juno looking ready to eat Maggie while she’s waiting for spring 😂