There aren’t half some not-rights out there
The late Captain Sir Tom Moore passed away at the beginning of February, after being treated for both Covid-19 and pneumonia. The 100-year-old military veteran served in several campaigns including WWII and became a national symbol of hope and unity when he set out to walk 100 lengths of his garden for NHS charities during lockdown.
In honour of his efforts, a plaque was commissioned on a park bench in Fenton Park, Stoke-on-Trent, which also paid homage to 703 other local residents who sadly passed away from coronavirus. However, just two days after it was unveiled, the memorial has been vandalised.
As reported in Stoke-on-Trent Live, not only has the memorial plaque itself been damaged but the flowers placed in the commemorative rose garden have been ripped out and destroyed. The garden was commissioned last month by Unitas Stoke-on-Trent, with a wreath being lain on the 5th of April.
Last month, we recognised #OneYearOn since the start of lockdown with a #DayofReflection 💙@SoTCityCouncil worked with @BethJohn64 & @ASISTStaffs to designate Fenton rose garden as a place of reflection. Martin, our Head of Repairs and Maintenance, laid a wreath at the garden. pic.twitter.com/0zx3zje17b
— Unitas Stoke-on-Trent (@UnitasSoT) April 5, 2021
Understandably, people are appalled by the vandal(s)’ actions. Local, Emma Owen, said “It’s disgusting and disrespectful when people have lost people to coronavirus. I hope they find out who is responsible.”, and Karen Smith added: “It’s shocking how people can be so thoughtless. I don’t understand why somebody would do that sort of thing.”
It is unclear why anyone would trash a memorial for people who have lost their lives as a result of Covid-19, or for a man who raised over £32 million for the NHS. Hopefully, the culprit’s will be identified.
