Darlington's Covid-19 memorial plaques to be changed after row over wording

The plaques are being put up in parks in Darlington, along with trees and memorial benches, as a tribute to those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.

But the plaques are set to be reworded following a row over the inclusion of Darlington Borough Council leader's name Heather Scott – with some people worried future residents will think it is a tribute to Cllr Scott.

The original wording of the plaque was:

These trees were planted in memory of Darlington residents who lost their lives to Covid-19

Rest in Peace

Councillor Heather Scott OBE

Leader of Darlington Borough Council

The plaque in Springfield Park Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Following outcry on social media, Cllr Scott said: "I have accepted the comments that my name on the memorial plaques has caused distress and arrangements are being made to replace the plaques.

“The planting of the trees has been welcomed and the seats will be provided shortly, the locations have been approved by the ward councillors who attended.

“We will be consulting on the provision of a dedication to all those who sadly died as result of Covid as soon as is practical.”

The council has now confirmed the plaque will now read: 

These trees were planted in memory of Darlington residents who lost their lives to Covid 19

Rest In Peace

On behalf of the residents of Darlington

One Northern Echo reader got in touch, describing the original wording as "self-serving".

Amber Thorne, from Mowden, whose mother Isabel McIlwain died with covid during the second wave, complained to the council.

The mum, who attended a plaque unveiling at Parkland Drive yesterday, said she had spoken to Cllr Scott and was pleased by the council's response. She said: "I thought it was a wonderful idea but when I saw the words on the memorial I was slightly perturbed.

"It actually looked like she might have died."

Isabel McIlwaine with daughter Amber and granddaughter Iris

Amber Thorne, with her daughter Iris and mother Isabel McIlwain, 68, who died on January 14 at Darlington Memorial Hospital

She added: "I'm pleased it has been changed. I think it's democracy at its best. The people have been heard and the council has been willing to recognise when it made a mistake.

"When I met Cllr Scott she was extremely kind and apologetic that it had upset us.

"We are grateful as bereaved families that our council has done something. Many other councils haven't done anything and the fact Darlington has is something they should be commended for."

She also thanked ward councillors Pauline Culley and Alan Marshall for their involvement.

A widow of a Covid-19 victim has urged the leader of a local authority to apologise over the wording of nine specially commissioned memorial plaques to those who lost their lives to the virus.

Denise Parkin, who lost her 73-year-old husband Brian in February to the virus, said Darlington Borough Council should have asked for the public's views over its plans to create memorial sites of trees across the borough before unveiling plaques which prominently featured Councillor Heather Scott's name.

Mrs Parkin, whose husband, a former security guard at Tetley in Eaglescliffe, died just three weeks after contracting the virus, was speaking after the council announced it would scrap the plaques.

The authority said the decision to replace the plaques had been taken following the wave of complaints about the council's leader's name being inscribed on them, less than a week after the first memorial was unveiled.

The council is set to plant trees at nine locations, including Springfield, Eastbourne and North parks, Staindrop Road and West Park, alongside specially commissioned plaques.

The plaques had been inscribed: "These trees were planted in memory of Darlington residents who lost their lives to Covid-19. Rest in Peace. Councillor Heather Scott OBE, Leader of Darlington Borough Council."

The decision to include Cllr Scott's name prompted criticism from scores of residents on several social media sites, describing the plaques as "distasteful" and being focused on self-publicity.

Resident Louise Robinson wrote: "It appears to me very self serving to have leader of the council's name on. Like no one else cared."

In response, the council acknowledged on its Facebook page there had been "discussion on social media about the choice of wording on commemorative plaques".

Cllr Scott said: “I have accepted the comments that my name on the memorial plaques has caused distress and arrangements are being made to replace the plaques.

“We will be consulting on the provision of a dedication to all those who sadly died as result of Covid as soon as is practical.”

Mrs Parkin said while she appreciated the Conservatives were leading the council, but all councillors should have been involved in the memorial plans.

She said: "I was absolutely furious when I saw it. At first I thought that Heather Scott had died, alot of people did.

"It's ridiculous, beyond belief. I think it was just look who I am. It shouldn't be about that. I watched my husband die and it wasn't nice and every one of those nurses in that ward cried.

"I think Heather Scott should apologise to everybody who has lost somebody because it really cut to the quick."