• Wave of Light service to take place on Tuesday 15 October 2024
• Candle-lit ceremony will be held in Royal Bolton Hospital’s Baby Memorial Garden from 6.30pm
• Event marks the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week

A special candle-lit service is to take place at Royal Bolton Hospital for people to come together and remember the lives of babies who sadly died too soon.

The annual ‘Wave of Light’ ceremony will take place on Tuesday 15 October 2024 in the hospital’s Baby Memorial Garden.

People are welcome to join the service to light a candle and take a moment to reflect in memory of all the babies who lit up lives for such a short time.

Reverend Catherine Binns, Deputy Head Chaplain at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:

Each year, our Wave of Light service aims to provide a safe space for people to come and reflect, remember, and to find hope.

“If you have been affected by baby loss, please know that you are not alone and that we are always here for you. We’ll have staff in attendance on the evening to provide support, whether that’s practical or if you would like to talk to us and share your story.

People can arrive from 6.30pm ahead of the service starting at 7pm.

Battery-lit candles will be handed out to those who are attending, which can be left to glow in the garden to honour the lives of babies.

If people are unable to join the service, they can join the virtual Wave of Light by taking a photo of their candle and posting it on social media using #WaveOfLight at 7pm.

In order to make sure the garden looks the best it can, the Trust are planning a garden tidy on Sunday 13 October from 1pm.

Catherine said:

We’re looking for volunteers to help on the day, so if you have a spare hour two, we would love for you to join us.

The global ‘Wave of Light’ marks the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, which takes place from Wednesday 9 October – Wednesday 16 October, and is an opportunity to bring communities together to give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone.

For more information about attending the service or to support with the garden tidy, please contact babygarden@boltonft.nhs.uk.

Service details

Date: Tuesday 15 October 2024

Time: 6.30pm

Location: Baby Memorial Garden, Royal Bolton Hospital, Minerva Road, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0JR