A SPECIAL bus will be touring East Lothian towns in the coming weeks, allowing residents to share their ideas for a Covid memorial for the county.

The ‘Remembering Together East Lothian’ bus is part of a nationwide Covid community memorial programme funded by the Scottish Government and put together by greenspace scotland and local authorities.

The programme is first inviting thoughts and ideas from residents on what a fitting Covid memorial or memorials might look like. These could be a physical structure, a garden, artwork, a play, a film, music, a book or a virtual exhibition

Barbara Gardner-Rowell, an East Lothian artist leading the consultation, is also leading a number of in-person, free workshops:

  • Handheld Reflections, on Monday, 12.30-2.30pm at North Berwick Community Centre. Participants will create a piece of reflective writing;
  • Evocative Objects, on Tuesday, 1-3pm at the Pennypit Centre, Prestonpans; August 29, 12.30-2.30pm at North Berwick Community Centre; and August 31, 6-8pm at Bleachingfield Centre, Dunbar. Participants will be invited to bring an object that means something to them, and to make an audio recording of the story behind their object;
  • Mapping the Local, on September 3, 11am-1pm in Gullane Village Hall. Participants will be invited to walk around their favourite place in the area and gather found objects, which will be used to create a ‘blueprint map’ of the area.

East Lothian Courier: Making blueprints for the Covid memorialMaking blueprints for the Covid memorial

The Remembering Together bus schedule is: September 10, 10am-noon The Brunton, Musselburgh, and 2-4pm Loch Centre, Tranent; September 17, 10am-noon Yellowcraig Beach and 2-4pm Court Street, Haddington; September 24, 10am-noon Port Seton Community Centre, and 2-4pm Dunbar Leisure Pool. Bus timetable updates will be posted on Facebook @RememberingTogetherEastLothian

The memorial(s) will be created later this year.