Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 23 March 2021

RESIDENTS across the borough of Hinckley and Bosworth have been invited by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to take part in a minute’s silence at 12 noon today (23 March) to mark one year on from the first national lockdown.

The one minute’s silence is a part of the nationwide coronavirus remembrance scheme titled ‘A Day of Reflection’.

Flags will be lowered to half-mast at the Council’s Hinckley Hub building on Rugby Road, as well as inside Hinckley’s two award-winning parks, Argents Mead and Hollycroft Park, to pay respects to and remember those who have lost their lives to the coronavirus.

Cllr. Lynda Hodgkins, Mayor for Hinckley and Bosworth, has issued a statement a year on the one year anniversary of the pandemic.

It reads: “Sadly today marks the one year anniversary since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the borough of Hinckley and Bosworth.

“Nobody could have envisaged how significantly coronavirus would affect all our lives and how long it would go on for.

“I want to pay my respects to every person who has lost their life to the virus and my condolences to all the loved ones affected.”

Cllr. Hodgkins further explained how ‘incredibly proud’ she was of residents across the borough on how they have responded towards the pandemic.

She continued: “I am incredibly proud of the residents of Hinckley and Bosworth and how they have responded to what has been an incredibly difficult year.

“I would like to thank everyone for working together as a community, for heeding government guidance and, most importantly, for saving lives.”

Cllr. Stuart Bray, Council Leader for Hinckley and Bosworth, said: “My thoughts also are with the families in our area who have lost loved ones and everyone affected.

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognise our incredible NHS workers and all our key workers – the teachers, the delivery drivers and so many more – they deserve huge praise and credit and have proven that they are modern day heroes.

“They have worked tirelessly during extremely difficult circumstances to ensure we are all safe and looked after.

“Residents have really stepped up at this time, volunteering to serve others in our community and now many are assisting in our vaccination programme across the borough. It is a truly heart-warming display of human kindness.”

“We still have a long way to go, and I urge everyone to get their vaccination when called; continue to follow all the guidelines and as we unlock and return to a more familiar life please do not become complacent. Thank you for playing your part in helping to keep each and every one of us safe.”

Bill Cullen, the Borough Council’s Chief Executive, added: “We are incredibly proud of the work our staff and partners have done in response to this global pandemic.

“From keeping services going in very challenging circumstance, supporting our response effort for local communities and supporting businesses and communities in recovery as we move forward through the national road map journey.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have sadly lost their lives during this challenging period.”