Sanctuary

Our town is really two towns joined together: Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough,  both famous in their own right. 

Nuneaton is the birthplace of George Eliot and Bedworth is known as the town that doesn't forget as it holds Armistice Day on the 11th November every year, no matter which day of the week it falls on. 

This year it has hosted a very special event, Sanctuary. A unique public memorial built as a temporary structure to remember those lost during the Covid pandemic. It was built using local tradespeople, students and volunteers with the public then encouraged to write messages to loved ones on it's wooden structure. 

Hubby and I visited on Friday, it was quite an emotional moment seeing all the messages, the photos, the pictures drawn. Inside and out the structure was filled with love tainted with loss, so very moving. 

Last night was the finale of the event: the Sanctuary was set alight and burnt to the ground as a mark of rebirth, recovery and regeneration. 

Thousands of people watched as the structure burned brightly in the night sky, we watched a live feed of this amazing moment. 

Before visiting the structure I was unsure about the burning and seeing the amazing intricate woodwork design I was still doubtful about it's finale, however watching the flames and thinking about all the messages I can see how this moment brought peace and hopefully a closure for those who have suffered loss in recent times .... God bless.