Covid-19 memorial unveiled at Sirhowy Valley Crematorium

A Covid-19 memorial has been unveiled at Sirhowy Valley Crematorium to provide people living in Caerphilly County Borough with a tranquil place in which to reflect on the pandemic.

The centre-piece of the memorial is a black granite obelisk featuring an inscription, together with a design by 11-year-old Faith Williams, from Newport.

Faith, whose ambition is to become a writer and illustrator, said: “My design includes the Welsh dragon, from the Welsh flag.

Above the dragon is a rainbow, which represents the NHS and key workers and is a message of hope. At the top is a heart, which represents the families, friends and communities supporting each other.

“I was inspired by all the good coming from this pandemic, like all the NHS and key workers who have been helping us all.

“I felt it was important to remember those who lost their lives to coronavirus and those who have helped others.”

As well as the stone at Sirhowy Valley, which opened in Pontllanfraith in February this year, Faith’s design will also feature on monuments at three other Welsh crematoria run by the Westerleigh Group.

Her design was chosen as part of a national competition run by the group.

Roger Mclaughlan, Chief Executive Officer of Westerleigh Group, said: “We want the memorial gardens to provide permanent, tranquil places for people to visit to remember loved ones who lost their lives during the pandemic and also to remember and reflect on those who have sacrificed so much to help others during the coronavirus crisis.

“We decided early on that we wanted local people to help shape how the gardens would look, so that each of them would become something of real significance to our local communities.”