A landscape of remembrance and healing

It was a question asked as Scotland was beginning to emerge from the first national lockdown, how do we remember this?

In an article with journalist Deborah Anderson in The Herald, Rev Neil Galbraith, minister for Cathcart Old Parish Church asked that very question and through his role recognised communities needed to come together to heal.

It led to Donald Martin, Editor of The Herald, deciding to launch a campaign to create Scotland’s Covid memorial. A public fund was then set up following an initial £5000 donation from the Renfrewshire-based Harry Clarke group of companies in memory of Jim Russell, from Glasgow, who died from Covid in May 2020. 

Glasgow City Council stepped forward with the offer of a home for the memorial in Glasgow’s Pollok Country Park with Lord Provost Philip Braat describing it as an ‘important and significant memorial which will bring solace to those who have lost loved ones.’

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also backed the campaign saying the I Remember campaign will ensure ‘fitting and lasting tributes to every life lost to COVID-19 and other illnesses during the pandemic.’

A dedicated Memorial Steering Group was set up to carefully guide the project to ensure that the memories and hopes of a nation would help shape the memorial and led to greenspace Scotland, a charity and social enterprise which promotes green networks and spaces, becoming involved. Working with its chief executive Julie Procter, an advisory panel was set up which recommended the appointment of artist and poet Alec Finlay.

Mr Finlay was commissioned to create Scotland’s Covid memorial and his vision has led to the I remember national Covid memorial in Pollok Country Park.

I remember is conceived as a memorial walk through Pollok Country Park, by way of forty oak artworks. The Riverside and Birch Groves will open in May 2022 and the final artwork will be completed for the national day of remembrance in March 2023.

The aspiration is that there will eventually be more supports created for satellite venues across Scotland.

A public fund raised around £240,000 with generous contributions from bereaved families and those who have been affected by the pandemic. It saw people take on mountain challenges and Kiltwalks to help reach the campaign fund total.

The campaign also received generous donations from the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, The Hunter Foundation, City Charitable Trust, The Watson Foundation, Freemasons of Glasgow and the Harry Clarke Group of companies.

About the artist

I remember was conceived by artist and poet Alec Finaly, in collaboration with Ken Cockburn and Lucy Richards (Better Company), after detailed consultation with people affected by the pandemic, including the bereaved and people with Long Covid. The idea of focussing on emotional support found its parallel in the design of the physical artworks, which adopt the form of wooden tree supports, and were made in collaboration with people affected by the pandemic, using photographs by Hannah Laycock, Alec Finlay, and others, which you can see in the album section. 

The website includes details of how to contribute a memory to the memorial. You can read I remember as an online book, download the audiobook, read by Robert Carlyle, and purchase the paperback, published by Stewed Rhubarb. Visitors can also plant a memorial wildflower, with the support of park staff – see the Visit page for details. There will also be a brief guide that will allow schools to run ‘I remember’ workshops.