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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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'.

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.

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

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

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!

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. ❤️

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. ❤️

Good night from us. ❤️

Love these! We have a limited supply of these beautiful candles available to buy. (Details in video) We'll be lighting one at our Covid19 National Day of Reflection event on 9th March at around 11:20am. We're live streaming through Facebook, and would love you to light a candle with us. ❤️

Strategy meeting for our Day of Reflection event at the wall on March 9th. Late night meeting, as it was the only time all 10 volunteers could make it. Productive meeting, awesome team! ❤️

‘When Maggie met Juno’ The sweetest little Boston Terrier puppy came to play today - Maggie is the newest family dog, and it was so important that our beautiful rescue American Bulldog Juno tolerated her crazy puppy energy! All went well - we think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

So appreciative of my lovely friend @loreleiking.bsky.social for bringing roses to the @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social today for Gareth, Gina, Steve - and for her own beloved Valentine, Vince. 💔💔💔💔

Thinking especially today of our volunteers who lost their sweethearts. 💔 #ValentinesDay

Something @tigresseleanor.bsky.social posted in the other place last month. Eleanor knew #CovidIsNotOver and worked tirelessly to help us ensure that our covid dead will not be forgotten. ❤️ "No one gets left behind."

Some of the volunteers are watching the @netflix.com series 'The Diplomat'. It's amazing to see this beautiful memorial to our beloved dead becoming an accepted and permanent part of the London landscape. ❤️ #London #TheDiplomat #MakeTheWallPermanent

The 16-strong fundraising team covered over 20 miles and reached altitudes over 2000m. They named it the "it’s ok trek".

Such gorgeous people, and so incredibly generous. The wall is so important to so many of us ❤️❤️❤️❤️

We are in for a series of grim five-year anniversaries. Yet many of us feel we are no further along, we have learned nothing, and our experiences have been squandered.

A Chinese doctor who tried to issue the first warning about the deadly coronavirus outbreak died five years ago today. Dr Li Wenliang contracted the virus while working at Wuhan Central Hospital. He had warned of the virus on 30 December but was told to stop making 'false comments.' #covid19

After having watched @channel5tv.bsky.social's 'The Michelle Mone Scandal', the volunteers think the documentary should have ended with a shot along the memorial wall to show the real cost of what they did. ❤️

Recommended #SundayReading: 'When this is over: reflections on an unequal pandemic', with a chapter written by volunteer @franfd.bsky.social ♥️

A very emotional moment, hearing our beautiful wall and its volunteers, the Friends of the Wall, mentioned in Parliament by Pat McFadden (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster), who visited us at the wall earlier this week. ❤️

Just a reminder, we have our own online tribute site, where anyone bereaved by covid can upload a photo and a dedication. Those who think covid was ‘just a cold’ would do well to spend time looking at some of these faces, & reading the words of grief. nationalcovidmemorialwall.dedicationpage.org

A fifth #WinterSolstice with a hole in my heart.

These guys are our heroes. Love you @ledbydonkeys.org ❤️❤️❤️❤️

A whole lot of organising for the volunteers, but these should be two very special days. More info will follow as we confirm details and timings for both dates.

I remember the absolute fury that inspired us to do this - the disbelief that those in power had partied with complete impunity while our beloved people died alone, suitcases of wine being wheeled into Downing Street while funeral wakes were forbidden. Just recalling it now still makes me rage.

The small team of volunteers spend many hours painstakingly restoring faded hearts at the wall. Time-consuming, but worth it when you see the results. ♥️ #TransformationTuesday

♥️

How can the CNOs of the four nations justify ignoring this letter from such eminent authorities for six weeks? How many people will have been infected as a direct consequence of the ongoing, wholly inadequate IPC guidance in this time? How many will die? HOW is this silence acceptable??

Truly one of the moments in my life I’m most proud of.

Here with @kaffb.bsky.social, @rum7.bsky.social & @gillyl.bsky.social (and Terry)

Almost 3,000 of the hearts on our wall are for health care workers & social care workers who died from covid-19. In this compelling interview, David outlines how these people were so unforgivably let down by those in power who ignored advice from experts who were so desperately seeking change. 💔

@ledbydonkeys.org speaking truth to power. Again. ❤️ youtu.be/WMwqhdVV5as