A beacon of comfort and remembrance will take place for families who have experienced the heart-breaking loss of a baby.
The service will be held at Haycombe Cemetery on Saturday, June 13, and is organised by the Spiritual Care team at the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the baby loss charity Sands.
Open to anyone affected by the loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy or shortly after birth, the service aims to provide a supportive space for reflection, remembrance and connection with others who have shared similar experiences.
Narinder Tegally, lead chaplain at the RUH, said: "This service, for people of all faiths and spirituality, is a time to come together, to remember and to acknowledge the love that remains for babies who are no longer here."
The ceremony will feature readings, music and an Act of Remembrance, during which families will have the opportunity to write their baby’s name on a paper butterfly and light a candle in their memory.
The service will begin at 1pm at the Hilltop Chapel within Haycombe Cemetery, located on Whiteway Road, Bath.
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to stay for refreshments and, if they wish, to visit the nearby Sands Garden.
There will also be an opportunity to plant small plants in remembrance of their babies.
For more information or to attend, individuals can contact the RUH’s Spiritual Care team at ruh-tr.chaplaincy@nhs.net.
The Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust provides a comprehensive bereavement and support service for grieving parents and families, including a dedicated bereavement suite designed to offer space and privacy during extremely difficult times.
The RUH also offers a wide range of medical and surgical services, including those for women and children, as well as accident and emergency care and diagnostic and clinical support.
It also delivers specialist care in areas such as rheumatology, chronic pain and chronic fatigue syndrome/ME.
In recent years, the Trust expanded its capacity by acquiring Sulis Hospital Bath in 2021, supporting both NHS and private patients.
It also opened the Dyson Cancer Centre, a purpose-built facility serving more than 500,000 people across the South West.
The Trust works collaboratively with regional partners as part of the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board.
It is currently rated 'good' by the Care Quality Commission.
Share