National Day of Reflection marked at Nightingale’s Rainbow

A minute’s silence was held at midday yesterday at Nightingale’s Rainbow on the site of Stoke Mandeville Hospital to mark the second anniversary of the Covid-19 lockdown.

The event was organised by Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity as part of the National Day of Reflection, a day to reflect and support all those grieving for family, friends, neighbours and colleagues they’ve lost over the last two years.

“In Buckinghamshire alone, over 1,400 people have died of Covid-19,” says Jo Turner, CEO of the charity.  “Each person has left a hole in the life of those who love and care for them, who may not have been able to be with their loved one at the end, or been able celebrate their life with the funeral or memorial they wanted due to restrictions.  This moment of silence offered an opportunity to stop and reflect on everything we’ve been through over the past two years and to honour those who have lost their lives.”

The occasion was led by Stefan Tiran, Chaplain at the Hospital and Shane Turvey, Deputy Bereavement Lead at Florence Nightingale Hospice who both spoke movingly about the losses to Covid-19 and the rise of community spirit and resilience that has been seen in local communities across the county in response to the pandemic.

Countess Howe, Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, staff from Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity and some of the Rainbow’s Build and Gold sponsors also attended the event.