Gainsborough House Unveil Memorial clock
On Monday 13th December we had a beautiful service led by minister of St James Church and very good friend to all at Gainsborough House, Frances Ireland.
The service was held to unveil a memorial clock dedicated to the memory of five residents and one staff member who we had to say goodbye to during the height of the Covid pandemic between March 2020 and March 2021.
The clock was designed by ceramic artist Lou Gibbon and created by residents and staff at Gainsborough House. It will be hung on the wall in reception as a permanent reminder of those we lost. It was created during a workshop run by Lou and two of her resident artists, Sally Riley and Amy Marsden. Both residents and staff took part in the workshop and they are absolutely delighted with this beautiful and poignant memorial that they created together.
After the unveiling we toasted with a glass of Cava and Frances also gifted some lovely Hyacinths from members of the church fellowship.
As part of the service Frances read a very apt and moving prayer which very much echoes how we feel and why we produced this memorial. We’d like to share it with you too…
‘Help us, gracious Lord as we look back on the sadness of this past year, to remember names not numbers, to focus on lives not lists, to count souls not statistics and to respond to human pain not headlines; knowing that in your sight every life is precious, every death is mourned and that in your compassion all our tears and losses are noted by you.’
A huge ‘Thankyou’ to our Activities Coordinators Sharon Hutchinson and Lorraine Pope for helping to manage the workshop and planning today’s service. And to ceramic artists Lou, Sally and Amy for all their creativity and hard work in producing this memorial. And last but not least, to our friend Frances Ireland, who has been an amazing support to our residents and staff here at Gainsborough House for many years. Thank you for always being there.
