Campaign for a national day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives to covid

Leyland resident Rachael Lidgett's online petition to commemorate 23 March - the anniversary of the first national lockdown - has now attracted close to 8,000 signatures.

Sight the petition now

Should the petition reach 10,000 signatures it will trigger a response from government.

South Ribble Borough Council has already thrown its weight behind the campaign and a Notice of Motion was passed at the most recent Full Council meeting (January 27).

The Council will continue to use its social media channels to promote the petition.

Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, who proposed the motion to Full Council, said: "I was really impressed with how Rachael decided to try and turn her family tragedy into a positive campaign. With more than 117,000 fatalities across the UK, it is surely right that the government considers a national day of remembrance.

"I'm really pleased to have helped Rachael publicise this petition. I've certainly signed it and I hope many local residents will do so too."

According to official government figures, the number of people in the UK to have died within 28 days of contracting COVID-19 has now passed 117,000.

Rachael's father Christopher Martin Cooper sadly passed away on 6 December at the age of 63 following a short battle with the virus.

Rachael said: "I am hugely grateful to South Ribble Borough Council for supporting my petition, especially Councillor Tomlinson and Councillor Jacky Alty for initially reaching out to me.

"I hope that people reading this will see what I am trying to achieve, and sign and share the link.

"We all need a day of remembrance, whether it's to mourn the loss of a loved one, to celebrate their life, or to remember the heroic efforts of our NHS. I believe we can all take some comfort in having a day to reflect."