New naming area for baby memorial

A new naming area within Ashford’s Baby Memorial Garden has been unveiled.

A further 11 babies’ names have been added to the area on a new stand, to go alongside the current namestone which contains 167 names.

Chris Twydell, alongside his wife Christine, is a volunteer for East Kent Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.

He said: “We are saddened that there is such a demand for name stones, but delighted that we are now able to bring some comfort to nearly 200 babies’ families, giving them each somewhere special to remember their babies.”

The Ashford Baby Memorial Garden is the only one in the country within a town centre, meaning it is open to everyone and completely accessible.

The garden was opened in 2013, having previously been a bit of unused and overgrown land, but with the help of Ashford Borough Council and the support of the community, Sands has managed to transform the area into a peaceful place to lay tributes and for families to remember their babies.

The demand for the namestone has been much higher than expected, which led to an additional area for babies’ names being created.

However, the namestones are not just for babies who have recently been lost – one tribute is to a baby who died in 1965.

Christine said: “We want an area that anyone can come to.

“Before, babies were just taken away and families didn’t grieve. They just had to forget about it, so it’s nice to have a place for them to have a tribute and remember the babies.”

Chris said: “We remember one bereaved mother who has a namestone saying that she had waited 40 years for somewhere to remember her baby.

“Now, she said, she has finally found that somewhere special.”

Sands works across the country to reduce baby deaths by promoting better maternity care and funding research.

Anyone affected by the death of a baby anywhere in east Kent is welcome to join a support group that meets on the third Wednesday each month from 7.30pm in the new Ashford College building. This group is run by bereaved parents and offers an opportunity for people to talk with others.

For more information call 07547 195791 or email eastkentsands@ gmail.com

Chris and Christine Twydell are both volunteers at Sands