A statue has been unveiled in a West Cumbrian park as a tribute to people lost and frontline staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workington’s RAF Engineering created the Nightingale Monument for Workington’s Vulcan Park, which had its official unveiling this week.
RAF Engineering’s managing director Rafal Gibki said he was proud that his firm was able to be involved and lead on such a poignant project.
He said: “The Nightingale Monument started as a lockdown project in the summer of 2020; like many companies, business slowed down, staff were furloughed to stay safe, and the world became a worrying place.
“The monument is there to remember those we lost, families who are still suffering today and to thank everyone who made sacrifices to help those in need.”
People of all ages attended the unveiling ceremony, yesterday including youngsters from Victoria Infants School. One of its pupils helped a police cadet to plant a time capsule to remind those in the future of what life during COVID-19 was like.
The stones surrounding the monument were painted during the pandemic by children from local schools.
Rafal added: “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on millions of people and businesses across the world.
“I had the job of keeping our Workington-based engineering company alive during these hard times, through my passion of engineering I knew I had to give something back to the community and that’s when the idea of the monument came about, a lot of time and effort went into producing the monument.
“I am very proud of being able to donate the monument to my local community.”
