South West joins national day of reflection to mark COVID lockdown anniversary
It's exactly a year since the first nationwide lockdown
Last updated 23rd Mar 2021
The South West will join a national day of reflection, marking one year since the UK entered its first lockdown.
Today's event has been organised by the end-of-life charity Marie Curie.
The occasion is being observed with a minute's silence at midday, followed by a bell toll.
The charity is also encouraging people to stand on their doorsteps at 20:00 GMT with phones, candles and torches, to signify a beacon of remembrance.
The Prime Minister says he will mark the minute's silence privately at noon. It will also be held in the Houses of Parliament.
London's skyline is turning yellow, with landmarks including the London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium lighting-up at nightfall.
More than 250 organisations are supporting the day of reflection. That includes 82 leaders from religious groups and cross-party politicians, care organisations, charities, businesses, emergency services, public sector bodies and community groups.
Robert Buckland, the South Swindon MP and Justice Secretary, has shared his lockdown anniversary thoughts.
He's used the occasion as an opportunity to thank "the whole justice estate" - including prisons, courts and the probation service - for their work over the past 12 months:
'It will be so lovely to be able to get together'
Greatest Hits Radio has spoken to West Country residents, asking what they are excited for once lockdown restrictions ease:
“I’ve always gone out with my sisters and met-up, so I’m just looking forward to being able to do that again”.
“Just meeting-up with friends and family. Going to dinner and the cinema and not having so many restrictions in place – it’ll be nice to socialise”.
“Family mostly - it will be so lovely to be able to get together. We usually do it twice a year, but we haven’t been able to over the last year”.
“It’ll be nice to have a bit more freedom after things have been so restricted and just be able to do regular things”.
“Getting together with our family, having a big family party – and of course a hug”.
“I’m looking forward to not having to think ahead and we can just pop into town for a coffee whenever we want to”.
'I feel like crying'
Another woman got very emotional when speaking to us - she said:
“I’ve been walking round town this morning and I feel like crying.
“I just want our high streets to come back and for people to start using our shops again and not shopping online.
“We used to meet our friends in town and walk around the shops together and now we’ve lost that”.
Gloucester Cathedral will toll its bourdon bell at noon to mark the beginning and end of the national silence.
At 16:30, the venue is hosting a live-streamed Evensong, with a choir and evening prayer.
Tewkesbury Abbey will be open as a space for private prayer and the lighting of candles. The bell will also toll at noon.