Sheffield paid tribute to the 2000 lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic on March 3rd, marking the inauguration of an annual day of remembrance and reflection.

The event, which took place in Balm Green Gardens near Barkers Pool, commenced with a minute of silence at noon and created a space for residents to grieve and extend support to one another.

In an introductory speech, Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “Today is an opportunity for us to remember the pain and the sadness, but also the moments of strength and compassion.”

Those attending were invited to revisit and process the hardships suffered throughout and following the pandemic.

Several personal stories were shared throughout the day, reminding everyone present of the magnitude of loss endured.

Reflecting on her personal experience, Natasha Hollingsworth, 27, a support worker, said: “My parents couldn’t visit me because of lockdown, we also dealt with family loss and restrictions, we couldn’t see her while she was deteriorating in the hospital, dying.”

Between 10 am and 4 pm, a workshop was held in which individuals could craft fabric leaves with personalized messages to attach to the memorial tree.

The leaves, which the council would later collect and archive, highlighted the different, though interconnected, experiences of those in attendance.

Rose Tomson, 39, a freelance worker for Woodland Wellbeing and Compassionate Sheffield, who facilitated the workshop, said: “I think people sometimes need something tangible to be able to let go, and we’ve given them a process that they can work through to talk about and share their experience, which is important, especially for those people who didn’t have anyone in lockdown.”

While the event’s primary focus was to commemorate those who had passed, it also celebrated ‘the bonds of the kinship of community’ throughout the pandemic.

The importance of collective resilience and collaboration during COVID-19 and moving forward was emphasised.

David Bussue, Chief Executive Officer for SACMHA, acknowledged city-wide cooperation though urged all “not to let it take a pandemic or a horrific murder to wake us up and help us see each other; there really is only one race, the human race

and we are all part of it”.