This evening (23/03), the chimney of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge was lit up yellow, with an image of a candle and the caption ‘Together CUH Reflects’ alongside the NHS logo, in commemoration of it being one year since the first national lockdown began.

Cambridge University Hospitals tweeted: “today we have paused to reflect on the contribution our staff have made over the past year.”

Cambridge’s Guildhall was also lit up in purple and gold to mark the occasion, representing the spirit of remembrance and hope for the future, with UK residents invited to participate by lighting up their doorway at 20:00 this evening.

A minute of silence was held at midday today in an act of commemoration and solidarity, which was led in Cambridge by Mayor Councillor Russ McPherson.

Meanwhile, several significant buildings across the country have been lit up as the nation comes together in its acts of commemoration, including the London Eye and Lichfield Cathedral.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also held a press conference this evening to mark the date, at which he announced plans for the establishment of a permanent memorial to those who had died from coronavirus, which would be built “at the right moment.”

On March 23rd last year, Johnson announced the first national lockdown and imposed the stay-at-home order, three days after schools and hospitality were instructed to close.

This comes as a further 112 deaths were reported within 28 days of a positive test, taking the total number of deaths 126,284, according to the latest statistics.