First Minister attends Covid-19 day of reflection memorial

First Minister John Swinney laid a wreath as bereaved families gathered on Glasgow Green to mark the Covid-19 Day of Reflection.

Mr Swinney described the ceremony – which was organised by Connie McCready, co-founder of Covid-19 Families Scotland – as being “particularly beautiful .. in the Glasgow sunshine”.

Ms McCready’s fiance Jim Russell, 51, died on May 4 2020 after spending 35 days in hospital and he was one of many individuals remembered at the memorial service, with single yellow roses laid by mourners.

She said the pandemic demonstrated how “interconnected we all are and how essential it is to care for one another, especially during times of crisis”.

A piper led mourners into the area designated for the ceremony while a choir sang inside the bandstand, including Imagine by John Lennon.

At noon, a minute’s silence was held.

Mr Swinney laid his wreath, along with two other people who also placed wreaths, at the foot of a tree where a plaque was placed.

Mourners followed with framed photographs of people who died in the pandemic, which were laid alongside yellow roses which were distributed to mourners.

Five white doves were released to commemorate each year since and Mr Swinney said that between 2020 and 2023 coronavirus was listed on 17,000 death certificates in Scotland.

The First Minister also read a poem by Scottish writer William Soutar, which said: “End is in beginning, And in beginning end, Death is not loss, nor life winning, But each and to each is friend.”

Mr Swinney said: “There’s something particularly beautiful about being in the warm Glasgow sunshine, of all of us able to together to support each other, that reflects the togetherness of all of us in our society.

“At the time it was difficult or impossible for people to be supported by others, because of the restrictions.”

Mr Swinney also paid tribute to “the sacrifices of frontline workers who kept us safe and to acknowledge those who continue to live with the consequences of the pandemic”.

In a speech, Ms McCready said: “Five years ago, life as we knew it changed forever. The world was faced with an unprecedented challenge and we witnessed acts of kindness, resilience and solidarity.

“We also saw the heartbreak of families losing loved ones too soon and the devastation felt by those who couldn’t be with them in their final moments.

“This day of reflection is a time to remember that behind every statistic, there is a person. For every family member and community affected, we reflect on their pain, their love and their enduring grief.

“The impact wasn’t just in the loss of life, it also brought the challenges of mental health, economic hardship and the deepening of inequalities.

“Yet there were also stories of hope, of people coming together to support one another, of frontline workers who showed extraordinary bravery, and of communities who proved that even in the face of such darkness, we can find light.”

She added: “The last five years have shown us just how interconnected we all are, and how essential it is to care for one another, especially during times of crisis. Let us ensure that their memory lives on, not only in our hearts but in our actions — in the way we care for one another.”

One mourner carried a placard commemorating a 32-year-old man who died in 2021, with the caption ‘a victim of the incompetence of many who let him down’.

Another woman spoke briefly about losing her father, aged 104, who she described as “a wee legend”.

She said: “Covid doesn’t define our loved ones.”