Captain Tom and Black Lives Matter fist light up London skies for New Year display – Mirror Online

An image of Covid hero Captain Sir Tom Moore and a Black Lives Matter fist lit up the London sky as Britain ushered in 2021.

The dazzling fireworks and light show also included tributes to the NHS and other notable figures who represented the bravery and turmoil of a torrid last 12 months.

As fireworks blasted in impressive fashion from Tower Bridge in a stripped back but still impressive extravaganza, several projections filled the sky over the O2 Arena as the TV cameras watched on.

One of which showed the NHS logo in a heart while a child's voice said "Thank you NHS heroes".

The 100-year-old former British Army officer Sir Tom, from Yorkshire, made himself a national treasure after he raised 33 million for the NHS by walking around his back garden.

A huge projected outline of the familiar sight of the pensioner standing at his walking frame and giving a thumbs-up shone over the arena, backed by a chorus of voices calling "Thanks Captain Tom".

As coloured lights shone at various points up the Thames, leading to more fireworks above Wembley Stadium, the Black Lives Matter movement was also recognised.

Viewers saw its clenched-fist symbol, which became recognised worldwide amid the protests which followed the death of Minnesota man George Floyd in police custody in May.

As the televised display began, a male voice recited a poem which set the theme: "In the year of 2020 a new virus came our way; We knew what must be done and so to help we hid away."

A later tribute came for BAME NHS workers - "so many of the nurses and doctors and consultants and cleaners, the helping hands guiding us through this storm".

The 10-minute display also featured a humorous nod to one of the "new normals" of 2020 - working from home.

The sounds of a video conference call starting up were heard, before the now-familiar and somewhat desperate words rang out - "No, you're on mute!" - as a mute logo filled the night sky.

Finally, the show ended with a ecological rallying call in the much-loved voice of Sir David Attenborough, reminding all of a reality shown so starkly in the past 12 months - the fragility of life on earth.

"Our planet is unique - a living world of diversity and wonder," Sir David said. "It's also fragile.

"With a new year comes the opportunity for change, and if we act in 2021 we can make a world of difference.

"Together we can turn things around. Together we can restore our fragile home, and make it a happy new year for all the inhabitants of planet Earth."

Speaking at Christmas, Captain Sir Tom said while our lives may seem bleak right now, "things will get better and next year, we'll be alright".

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Captain Tom and Black Lives Matter fist light up London skies for New Year display - Mirror Online