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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

"A long, unbroken line of hearts beating defiantly against forgetting." We will never forget. ❤️

Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

This day is so important to so many who have been bereaved by covid. For many of us who are ignored by society and feel failed by the Covid inquiry, coming together at our beautiful memorial every year is a special kind of togetherness ❤️

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

We can assure you that to the families of the dead represented on our Wall, who were unable to be with their dying loved ones because they obeyed rules made by and then cynically flouted by those in power, it was not just 'a bit of cake'. It was devastating. Breathtaking insensitivity by Madeley.

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Proud to be one of the Paddington Four 👊🏻

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

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.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

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

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Thanks guys. Am furious that this is still a thing. Five years since Steve died from it.

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

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

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Big Green Books @biggreenbooks.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

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.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

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

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

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

A picture of the wall taken from Westminster Bridge

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Good Funeral Guide CIC @goodfuneralguide.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

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

A quote on a pale green background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people.

“Someone we know died at the weekend, he was there on Friday and gone when we expected to see him on Monday. With no funeral, we donated to his chosen charity but other than that he just disappeared. I found that really hard and I know other people did too.”

A quote on a pale beige background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people.

“Easy. Simple. Fuss-free. Meant I could plan a decent memorial rather than be held to outdated and rigid social constructions of funerals unchanged since the Victorian times.”

A quote on a pale green background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people.

“We were hoping to light a candle or visit a church to remember silently but we were not told that my dad’s body had been taken to the crematorium and he had been cremated.”

A quote on a pale beige background. The quote reads: ‘Direct cremation. The words of bereaved people.

“We were comfortable with our choice and after we marked the time, carried on to work.”

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Good Funeral Guide CIC @goodfuneralguide.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

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

A young woman, a man and a blonde woman in a blue suit sitting in a pew at a crematorium, with a small pale cream dog sitting next to them.

A black Patterdale terrier wearing a red coat standing on its hind legs with its head against a grey woollen coffin in the back of a black hearse. Two women and a man are smiling as they look at the dog.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Lorelei King @loreleiking.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

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'.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Good Funeral Guide CIC @goodfuneralguide.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

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.

Four people casually dressed carefully holding a grey woollen coffin in their hands overseen by a man in a grey suit. They are in front of a large window overlooking the grounds of a crematorium.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Good Funeral Guide CIC @goodfuneralguide.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

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

Two witw women’s hands touching a cardboard coffin with rope handles, decorated with pictures, with a bouquet of wildflowers on top.

A child’s hand touching a cream felt shroud.

A white man’s hand touching a grey woollen coffin. On top of the coffin is a red mug, a teddy bear and a green and grey rucksack.

Two hands touching a small, cream coloured woollen coffin.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Lorelei King @loreleiking.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

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

Gill and Kirsten sitting at a pub table. The pub is old-fashioned, with ornate wood pillars and panelling..

Michelle and me, each wearing a red heart badge or brooch.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Good Funeral Guide CIC @goodfuneralguide.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

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!

An empty crematorium with a simple coffin on the catafalque

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

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

An older photo showing the memorial wall covered with painted hearts faded to the palest pink. A woman in a red coat stands in front of the wall, touching photographs strung along the top.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Volunteer @franfd.bsky.social read this beautiful, difficult poem at the wall during our anniversary event on Saturday. ❤️ #ForOurHusbands

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

This is an incredibly difficult weekend for the millions of people in the UK who are bereaved by covid. ❤️

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

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. ❤️

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

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. ❤️

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

We are 100% going to do our damnedest tomorrow to place the beautiful souls lost to covid-19 in the memory of the living. ❤️

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

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. ❤️

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

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! ❤️

A Zoom screen with the ten volunteers. Top row: Fran, Lorelei, Lynn, Gill. Middle row: Anne, Michelle, Amanda, Kirsten. Bottom row: Terry and Kathryn.

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

‘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!

A big black and white American Bulldog nuzzles up to a little black and white Boston Terrier puppy. Please meet Juno and Maggie, introduced for the first time today!

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

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. 💔💔💔💔

A crimson rose on a ledge in front of a bright red heart painted on a cream coloured wall. The writing in the heart says ‘Steve Mead x’

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

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

A red painted hearts that says Steve Mead. There is a red rose laid under it.

A red painted heart that says Vincent Marzello. There is a red rose affixed to the wall next to it.

A red heart that says Gareth William Jones, a giant of our time. There is a red rose affixed to the wall next to it.

A red painted heart that says Gina Lansley. There is a small bunch of white freesias attached to the wall next to it.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

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."

Screen grab of a tweet by Eleanor. There is a picture of our red banner at the wall with the number of covid dead. On this day, it read 246,238. Her tweet is dated 1 January 2025 and reads: "You go ahead to 2025. I'll catch up. There are still many I have to wait to ferry across from 2024, I'll be awhile. No one gets left behind. And still counting.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

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 beginning of the memorial wall at the foot of Westminster Bridge at night. One of the characters is smiling as she stands in front of the red painted hearts of the wall. Lights are strung along the top of the wall.

An aerial shot of Parliament and the river Thames. On the south side of the river, the red hearts of the memorial wall can be seen.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

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

Lots of trekkers climbing a steep hill using poles. There are mountains in the background.

The team at the rocky summit, waving Flags from the UK, Canada and New Zealand.

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

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

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Reposted by Fran Hall

Lorelei King @loreleiking.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

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.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

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

A closeup of Doctor Li Wenliang. He is double-masked, with green FFP3 over a blue surgical mask. He is wearing glasses and looks directly at the camera.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

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. ❤️

A photo of the memorial wall taken from Westminster Bridge. The thousands and thousands of red painted hearts look very bright.

The red banner at the memorial wall that keeps a tally of the UK covid dead. It reads 246,747.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

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

The cover of the recommended book. The cover is red, with a white surgical mask in the shape of a heart. The rest also says, "with contributions from Led by Donkeys, Michael Rosen, Gary Younge and Gran Hall"

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

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. ❤️

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

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

nationalcovidmemorialwall.dedicationpage.org

The National Covid Memorial Wall

Each hand-painted heart represents someone who was loved. Someone who was lost too soon to Covid. Leave a dedication on this page in memory to your loved one, as together we commemorate victims of the...

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

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

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

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.

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

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.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

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

A faded pink heart on the wall. The writing has all but disappeared, except for the name 'Betty'.

A fully restored, bright red heart with a rewritten dedication: Betty Mayhills, Nanny Bet, always our sunshine, 1927-2020.

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Reposted by Fran Hall

UK National Covid Memorial Wall @covidmemorialwall.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

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??

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Fran Hall @franfd.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

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

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