Greater Manchester reflects one year on from the first national lockdown

One year since the country went into the first national lockdown Greater Manchester is reflecting on 12 months which have remade the fabric of society.

Overnight the lives of thousands of Mancunians changed and for many, normality has still not returned.

Many are still working at home or have had to adapt to a world where social distancing is the norm. Children have only recently returned to their classrooms, and swathes of businesses still have their doors closed to the public.

On Tuesday, March 23, Manchester City Council will mark this anniversary by flying the town's flag at the Manchester Central Library at half mast. In the evening the Library will also be illuminated yellow, the colour chosen to mark the national day of reflection.

Manchester Cathedral will be holding a special memorial service from around 11.35 am, in time to finish for the minute’s silence at 12pm, midday.

As well as this, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service firefighters will also be taking part by lowering the flags outside their stations for the day, as a mark of respect and condolence to those who have died.

'Grieving has been so much harder during these times'

In his video message Mayor Andy Burnham said: “So many people have lost their husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbours and work colleagues.

“And sadly, grieving, mourning and providing comfort has been so much harder during these times, with restrictions on funeral gatherings and people coming together.

“However, our families and communities have been there for each other and have provided much needed support over the last 12 months.

“On behalf of everyone in Greater Manchester I want to thank our public services, our businesses, our voluntary, community and faith organisations who have made a massive contribution and provided support to those who grieve, those who suffer and everybody who has been harmed by the pandemic.”

Those who have lost loved ones are also reminded of Greater Manchester’s online book of remembrance, which honours those in our city-region who have lost their life as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

'She climbed in the back of the ambulance and that was the last time I saw her alive'

The special memorial service will remember the thousands of lives that have been lost to coronavirus over the last 12 months.

Tony Fitzgerald lost his wife Ann to the virus on the 7th April 2020. They were together for 47 years, and married for 41 of them.

Ann fell ill a few days after visiting her hair salon and spent several days fighting the virus from home.

Tony remembers the moment she took a turn for the worse: "The biggest regret I have is that I never gave her a hug or kiss. I can still picture her as a look out the window where the ambulance parked up - she climbed in the back of the ambulance and that was the last time I saw her alive.

"The day she passed away, at 3.01am she sent me a message but she also had taken a photograph of herself lying in the hospital bed.

"She must have done it thinking I'll send him something to remember me by. She sent me this selfie picture of her final hours - and then she passed away in the morning."

Tony said he suffers flashbacks from the dreaded day he got the call from the hospital: "My mind goes back to walking through the corridors dreading what I was about to see... dreading how I'd tell my son and daughter.

"I remember telling them as clear as ever. The wail from my daughter - that will stay with me forever. It haunts me."

The family will remember Ann with a small gathering on the 7th April 2021 - exactly one year since she passed away.

"I think about Ann every single day. I've still got all her clothes, her phone with all her messages on. I've not read them yet as it's still too raw."

'I was the luckiest man on Earth when I met her'

Tony will sometimes spray Ann's perfume to feel close to her again, and says even though 12 months have passed it still feels incredibly raw.

"Ann was truly unique. She was stunningly good looking - even though she was 65 you would never had dreamt it.

"Everyone that met her they warmed to her instantly. She had these beautiful eyes. She was the funniest person you could ever meet. She had a cheeky grin and was always happy.

"I suppose I was the luckiest man on Earth when I met her. I'll never have the joy of seeing her again."

When the 7th April arrives Tony said he'll be with his son and daughter to remember the happier times, surrounded by her pictures in the front room. He hopes Ann will be looking down on them with her cheeky smile.