COVID’s Wake: Five Years On: Service, Sorrow, and Shortcomings

Today is a UK nationwide day of reflection marking the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

It serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact this global event had on our lives.

The scenes depicted in the news, the tears shed at the National Covid Memorial Wall, the minute’s silence echoing across the nation, and the heartfelt words of those who lost loved ones – all of it resonated deeply today and in its moment.

The Prime Minister has acknowledging that:

“As we mark five years since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I know for many there is deep grief and loss that may never be relieved.”

capturing the enduring sorrow that many still carry.

Lynn Jones’s raw emotion as she spoke of her husband’s solitary battle with the virus was a stark reminder of the isolating nature of those times.

Michael Rosen’s poem, born from his own harrowing experience, offered a moment of shared vulnerability and healing.

The events across the UK, from the water cannon salute on the Thames to the dove releases in Glasgow Green, were acts of collective mourning and remembrance.

Here, at Soulton Hall, we witnessed aspects of the nation’s resilience, and reflect today on those strange and compressive days and the atmosphere of trauma and the need to protect things that were in danger. As many arts venues were forced to close, we were determined to protect and preserve the arts.

We inaugurated a brand new earthen amphitheatre, hosting numerous plays and enabling over 5,000 people to access live theatre.

This was not just a cultural intervention; it was an economic lifeline for many creatives and a vital contribution to civic life and mental health during a period of immense stress and isolation.

The spectacular performances, featuring drones, giant puppets, light shows, and signal fires, provided moments of joy and connection, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the arts during challenging times.

Furthermore, at Soulton Long Barrow, a Covid Memorial Stone was raised as an interfaith and intercultural monument.

It stands as a point for people of all backgrounds to come together and grieve the losses caused by the pandemic, while also serving as a symbol of hope and healing.

Representatives from humanist, Christian, Baháʼí, Jewish, and Islamic communities were present, offering prayers, scriptures, and reflections on behalf of all. These initiatives, both the support of the arts and the creation of a memorial, underscore the importance of creating spaces for shared mourning, celebration, and collective healing within our own communities. We sought to make Soulton Hall a place of healing, remembrance, and cultural resilience.

The cultural focus we maintained during the emergency proved to be more than just a means of immediate support; it became a catalyst for deeper, more meaningful recovery. By prioritizing the arts, we more fully unlocked a richer appreciation for our own historical and literary connections.

Notably, it allowed us to fully reclaim and celebrate our Shakespearean legacy, particularly the ‘As You Like It’ memories intrinsically linked to this place.

The plays, performances, and shared experiences created a renewed connection to these timeless narratives, fostering a sense of continuity and resilience. In a time of uncertainty, these cultural touchstones provided a vital anchor, allowing us to emerge from the crisis not only physically recovered, but culturally and emotionally enriched:

First, in this forest, let us do those ends
That here were well begun and well begot:
And after, every of this happy number
That have endured shrewd days and nights with us
Shall share the good of our returned fortune,
According to the measure of their states.
Meantime, forget this new-fall’n dignity
And fall into our rustic revelry.

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This fifth anniversary also presents a fitting opportunity to reflect on the nature of leadership within the civic and business spheres during those unprecedented times.

While many stakeholders projected fine words and indeed lived up to their promises, demonstrating commendable integrity, this was not a universal truth.

Some, unfortunately, abused their offices and guardian responsibilities, failing to uphold the trust placed in them.

For instance, the CEO and Chair of NFU Mutual (Lindsay Sinclair and Jim McLaren respectively) publicly quoted a poem promising that :

History will remember when the virus left
And the houses opened
And the people came out
And hugged and kissed

Yet, that very business remains embroiled in litigation and has failed people in deep and diverse ways which have in some cases been admitted but not yet remedied.

This period served as a stark reminder that true leadership is tested not only in times of prosperity but also, and perhaps more importantly, during crises. It is a test some failed and are being held accountable for, slowly.

It is a time to assess the actions taken, the decisions made, and the impact they had on communities and individuals, discerning between those people and business  who truly served and those who fell short of their ethical obligations, which continues to be an issue years on despite the primroses projected in early 2020.

A fantastic poem by @Donna_ashworth with a very important message, being read out by members of our team from across the UK. Thank you to @yellowwelliesuk for pulling this wonderful video together. https://t.co/ILrKV9a69a

— NFU Mutual (@nfum) April 10, 2020

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