South Oxfordshire residents came together for a heartfelt winter remembrance gathering.
The Sue Ryder Celebrate a Life Thames Valley, which took place on December 13 at the Great Hall, University of Reading, served as a special occasion to commemorate the lives of departed loved ones.
Managed by Sue Ryder’s head of family support, Ken Blanton, the event featured readings, poems and a series of live music performances by professional pianist Anita D’Attellis and the Glee Choir.
Attendees were also given an opportunity to make a dedication in honour of a specific person, displayed on a Celebrate a Life wall.
Hannah Richards, community fundraising manager at Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire, said: "It was a very moving evening, where we were able to stop and pay tribute to the lives of friends and family who have died.
"It was wonderful to see so many people from Berkshire join us for an evening of reflection and we hope it gave people space to have the lives of their loved ones acknowledged."
Those unable to make it on the day, can leave personal dedications in memory of loved ones on the Sue Ryder online wall.
The organisation offers an extensive range of bereavement support online, including free video counselling through trained bereavement counsellors, a 24-hour online community forum for peer to peer support, and a plethora of advice and resources for those grieving or aiding someone through bereavement.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here