TCF News Autumn 2022

Autumn 2022 - TCF Newsletter | www.tcf.org.uk 11 The Compassionate Friends Medway Group held their 23rd Annual Candle Lighting on Sunday 3rd July 2022. We had not been able to meet like this for two years and eight months! I introduced myself and welcomed everyone to this event which also happened to be National Bereaved Parents Day. I encouraged everyone to light a candle at 7.00 that evening. I introduced Mary Hartley who talked about the continuing bonds that we have with our children. This is an extract from Mary’s talk, ‘Our bond with our beloved children, siblings and grandchildren will stay strong for the rest of our lives and we all nurture that bond all the time; we celebrate their birthdays, we include them in our Christmases, we bring them presents back from holiday, we display their photos in our homes, we buy them flowers, we fund raise in their name, and so much more. One of the best ways of nurturing that bond is by talking about them telling their stories and saying their names, which really are music to our ears’. Our event consisted of poems, lighting of three candles that stood in glass jars among the many photographs of our precious children that had been brought along by the bereaved parents who lit individual candles at the end. Soft music was played on the keyboard throughout. Everyone who was there received a rose and a small gift which was a lovely, embroidered candle made by Eileen, a bereaved parent. Refreshments were available too and everyone stopped to chat and eat cake. It was a lovely afternoon with about 40 attending. By Irene Baldock I remember the wonderful retreats organised by Gill in the beautiful Matlock area of Derbyshire and the way that she would bring us all together to remember and speak of our children in really beautiful magical moments. Even when not at the retreats you could always call or write, perhaps even visit, Gill was always ready to give a gentle sympathetic ear to those that needed comfort. I am proud to say that Gill was not only a supporter but as time went by we became friends, a true friend. When Gill formed her own Facebook support group, Will’s Safe Haven, she asked me to be one of the administrators of the group. I felt greatly honoured that she would entrust such a thing to me and so I was very happy to do that. Gill is at peace now after a few years of pain and suffering and wherever Will is she is there too. Goodbye Gill and thank you for everything xxx. Candlelighting in Kent