Covid memorials

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. About the memorials
  3. Memorial locations
  4. Freedom of the Borough for local NHS workers, care services and key workers

Overview

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, South Tyneside wanted to create a meaningful and lasting memorial and have a special place for people to remember their loved ones.

In March 2023, six special memorials were unveiled in South Tyneside. 

These memorials:

  • honour those who died
  • recognise the sacrifices made by volunteers and key workers
  • acknowledge the impact of COVID-19 on the people of South Tyneside
  • act as a lasting tribute to the resilience of our communities

As recognition of their contribution to keeping local people safe and continuing to deliver essential services at the height of the pandemic, South Tyneside Council have also awarded Freedom of the Borough to local NHS, care services and key workers.

About the memorials

The memorials feature 5 foot granite plinths, and each one have inscriptions reflecting the experiences of the local area.

They were decided by local people and community groups working with the Council's creative partners, The Cultural Spring.

Artists were invited to help develop the wording for the memorials, with Claire Finlay and Lindsey Grieves chosen by a community panel to lead creative workshops.

Memorial locations

The memorials were unveiled on Sunday 12 March 2023, at:

  • South Marine Park, South Shields
  • West Park Jarrow
  • Fountains Park, Hebburn
  • Cornthwaite Park, Whitburn
  • Front Street, Cleadon (adjacent to Cleadon Village Community Room)
  • Boldon Colliery (on land between Gibson Court and Hubert Street)

The unveiling events involved a short service including prayers, poems, readings and music reflecting on the pandemic, the efforts of key workers and commemorating those who died.

Freedom of the Borough for local NHS workers, care services and key workers

Freedom of the Borough is the highest honour the Council can award.

South Tyneside Council have awarded this honour to local NHS, care services and key workers in recognition of their contribution to keeping local people safe and continuing to deliver essential services at the height of the pandemic.

This was considered at an extraordinary meeting of Borough Council at South Shields Town Hall on Thursday 9 March.

View the formal conferral on South Tyneside Council's YouTube channel

A smaller copy of the scroll will be made available to any key worker to collect from the Town Hall after the event.