A LASTING tribute for Pembrokeshire loved ones lost during the Covid-19 pandemic and those working on the frontline has been placed at County Hall.

Council Chairman Cllr Thomas Tudor unveiled a beautiful stone, kindly donated to the people of Pembrokeshire by Ian Harries of A & C Aggregates.

It features a slate plaque, sponsored by the Port of Milford Haven, engraved with a fitting and poignant tribute. 

The plaque reads: “In memory of all those taken from us during the Covid-19 pandemic. We remember our loved ones who died. We think of those who were unable to say goodbye. Our thanks are with those who worked tirelessly to save lives and supported our communities.“

Council Leader Cllr David Simpson’s invitees included His Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant of Dyfed Dr Chris Martin, Council colleagues, health and emergency services, statutory partners and representatives of faith and religion from across Pembrokeshire. 

At the unveiling on Friday (22^nd March) Cllr Tudor said: “We all have our own personal memories and experiences of that lockdown and the time that followed.

“Some will have sadly lost loved ones and it is those people who are at the forefront of our thoughts. Some may still be experiencing the impact of Covid on their health.

“But whatever your personal experience, none of us will ever forget that time. For some during Covid, time seemed to stop. Days merged into weeks, then months as their every-day lives came to a stop. 

“For others, those we came to know as key workers, it was a time of working under the most intense pressure imaginable.

“The plaque rightly recognises those workers from all organisations and sectors that cared for us, kept us fed, kept our vital public services running and kept us safe in those often difficult days and nights.

“To them all I say a huge thank you for everything that you did. Time is said to heal. And with time comes the opportunity to reflect. We reflect today and remember those lost to Covid and we thank those who did everything they could to save lives and keep us all safe.”

Darron Dupre from Unison spoke on behalf of the trade unions and added his thanks to those that had helped facilitate the request to Cllr Simpson for a memorial.

He highlighted that there had been many people able to switch to working at home as the pandemic hit in 2020 but “so many people in Pembrokeshire did not have that luxury and went in to work every single day.”

“The reality is that we lost people. This memorial stone will endure and we will be able to remember the people and their story in this place. This is your space and this represents your story.”