GALLERY: Devizes marks pandemic losses in poignant memorial

The Green in Devizes was transformed over the weekend into a rippling blanket of crosses and flowers.

St James's Church had planned the memorial as part of Easter Weekend to allow people to come together in a socially-distanced way.

Devizes Town Council, Sheep Street Baptist Church, St John’s Church Flower Guild, St James Church Flower Guild and Devizes Flower Club had all come together with St James Church to make the memorial possible.

Crosses were placed in the ground by members of the public, then adorned with flowers made by the local flower club and church volunteers.

They were then scattered around a large cross, which was made 40 years ago by local Philip Roper, while he was an apprentice carpenter. Philip died in November 2020.

Keith Brindle, Vicar at St James, said: "This gave people the opportunity to be honest and open about the difficult experiences they have gone through. Mourning has been very difficult during lockdown, people haven't been able to hug or come together properly at funerals. This was a chance for people to share their grief and see that they are not alone. The simple bouquets represent the resurrection of Hope."

He added: "‘The Field was possible thanks to the support of Devizes Town Council and over 60 volunteers who freely gave their time from across the churches and the wider community.

Keith Brindle on Sunday

"Many made the posies of flowers, at their own cost, whilst others gave out the crosses and flowers on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

"Some had very personal reasons for wanting to help, for example, the sturdy baseplate that held the cross upright was fabricated by Alan Perkins in memory of his father, a well-known local builder, Arthur, who passed away in January aged 94 with covid."

On Sunday, Jean Clifton was at the Field, and had left a tribute for her sister-in-law. "It is a lovely idea," she said. "They all look lovely together in the sun and it really does bring people together. It's special."

Nina Martin also walked through the memorial to visit her cross, which paid tribute to her parents and parents-in-law.

She added: "It's something entirely different. I had come down on Friday to place my cross down, and to come back today and see them all is amazing."

The display will now be composted and used to nourish a crocus bed, which will be planted on the Green to remind people every year of the pandemic and this point in the town's history.