Why are there not more Covid memorials?
A Devon academic is holding a talk on the subject at the Phoenix on Tuesday night
Last updated 27th Feb 2026
A talk's being held in Exeter looking at why there's relatively very few memorials to the lives lost and disrupted by Covid.
Professor David Tollerton, who was behind a Devon-based audio book of memories from the pandemic (below), says some plaques - only put up in 2021 - have already been lost.
The University of Exeter professor said: "The most famous memorial is one opposite the House of Parliament, there's this wall along the Thames that's about half a mile long that's covered in about 240,000 red hearts and it's got loads and loads of messages on it.
"But there's actually loads and loads of local memorials, but they are not always as a high profile.
"There's one in Northernhay Gardens in Exeter but the story behind that is quite peculiar. That was laid down in 2021 by Exeter City Council and there was a memorial plaque and a memorial tree that was planted.
"Then it was essentially forgotten about and it got buried. It literally was overcome by soil and leaves and grass.
“It was only when myself and a research assistant in 2024 got one of the photographs from the unveiling ceremony and worked out where it must be and started digging that we actually found this plaque."
The plaque was later raised in height and now remains on show in Northernhay Gardens, following an updated ceremony.
When asked why he thinks there isn't more high-profile memorials, Prof Tollerton said: "We're still living with it in terms of the loss, and the effects on child development, and in terms of the trauma that's still among NHS workers but also for society as a whole it's almost this strange dream that we don't quite know what to do with."
Professor Tollerton says the Government has given its support to 10 regional memorials and there is plans for a multi-acre national memorial arboretum commemoration - but neither has a committed timeframe.
The discussion event - held at the Exeter Phoenix, on Tuesday 3 March, from 7:30pm to 9pm - is organised by Professor David Tollerton, from the University of Exeter, who is researching how people around the country have been creating memorials to those lost in the pandemic.
He added: "Publicly remembering the pandemic is hard because people’s experiences were so different from each other. It wasn’t always a unifying event. However it is still important for us all to remember that time and those affected.”
To register for the event click here:
A list of regional Covid memorials can be found here