A
ceremony
has
been
held
in
London


to
honour
those
Transport
for
London
staff
who
lost
their
lives
to
Covid-19.

The
Mayor
of
London
and
transport
commissioner
Andy
Lord
were
joined
by
the
families,
friends
and
colleagues
of
the
victims
when
a
memorial
was
unveiled
in
a
square
in
Aldgate. 

More
than
100
transport
workers
have
lost
their
struggle
with
Covid,
and
the
new
permanent
memorial
unveiled
by
the
Mayor
and
Commissioner
pays
tribute
to
the
vital
contribution
they
made
by
keeping
essential
workers
moving
during
the
pandemic.

The
memorial
is
accompanied
by
benches
and
new
plants,
including
a
Foxglove
Tree,
which
create
a
space
for
quiet
reflection
and
remembrance.

The
Mayor
said:
‘It’s
an
honour
to
commemorate
the
more
than
100
transport
workers
who
lost
their
lives
in
the
service
of
our
city.

‘When
the
entire
nation
was
gripped
by
fear
they
did
not
waver.
They
ensured
our
phenomenal
NHS
workers
could
still
care
for
our
friends
and
family,
our
shopworkers
and
delivery
drivers
could
still
meet
our
basic
needs
and
our
care
workers
could
still
look
after
our
most
vulnerable.

‘They
were
there
for
us
and
we
are
duty
bound
to
remember
that
we
only
prevailed
because
they
persevered.
This
memorial
will
stand
here
for
all
time
as
an
expression
of
the
debt
we
owe
for
the
sacrifice
they
made.’

Commissioner
Andy
Lord
added:
‘This
memorial
pays
tribute
to
our
colleagues
who
helped
the
capital
when
it
was
needed
the
most,
but
we
sadly
lost
to
coronavirus.
Their
tragic
loss
is
devastating
for
us
all
and
we
owe
them
our
gratitude
and
must
never
forget
them.

‘While
they
paid
the
ultimate
sacrifice,
I
have
no
doubt
that
they
also
helped
save
many
lives
by
ensuring
other
key
workers,
such
as
doctors
and
nurses,
got
to
work
so
they
could
in
turn
help
to
save
others.’