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An image of the Covid hero Captain Sir Tom Moore and a fist of Black Lives Matter lit up the London sky as Britain ushered in 2021.
The dazzling fireworks and light show also featured tributes to the NHS and other notable figures representing the bravery and turmoil of the past 12 torrid months.
As fireworks exploded impressively from Tower Bridge in stripped but still impressive extravaganza, several projections filled the sky over the O2 Arena as television cameras watched.
One of which featured the NHS logo on a heart while a child’s voice said “Thank you NHS heroes.”
(Image: PA)
The 100-year-old former British Army officer Sir Tom from Yorkshire became a national treasure after raising £ 33 million for the NHS by walking through his back garden.
A huge projected outline of the familiar sight of the pensioner standing in his walker and giving a thumbs up flashed across the sand, backed by a chorus of voices shouting “Thank you Captain Tom.”
(Image: @ mukhtardatti / Twitter)
(Image: @ mukhtardatti / Twitter)
As colored lights flashed across the Thames, sparking more fireworks over Wembley Stadium, the Black Lives Matter movement was also recognized.
Onlookers saw the clenched fist symbol, which became recognized around the world amid protests that followed the death of Minnesota man George Floyd in police custody in May.
When the televised exhibition began, a male voice recited a poem that established the theme: “In the year 2020 a new virus came our way; we knew what to do and to help ourselves we hid.”
(Image: PA)
A later tribute came for the BAME NHS workers: “many of the nurses, doctors, consultants and cleaners, the hands that helped guide us through this storm.”
The 10-minute screen also featured a humorous nod to one of the “new normals” of 2020: working from home.
The sounds of a video conference call were heard beginning, before the now familiar and somewhat desperate words rang out: “No, you are silent!” – while a silent logo filled the night sky.
(Image: PA)
Finally, the show ended with an eco-reunion call in the much-loved voice of Sir David Attenborough, reminding everyone of a reality so starkly displayed in the last 12 months: the fragility of life on earth.
“Our planet is unique, a living world of diversity and wonder,” said Sir David. “It is also fragile.
(Image: PA)
“With a new year comes the opportunity to change, and if we act in 2021 we can make a world of difference.
“Together we can change things. Together we can restore our fragile home and make it a happy new year for everyone on planet Earth.”
Speaking at Christmas, Captain Sir Tom said that while our lives may seem bleak right now, “things will get better and next year, we will be fine.”
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