Today's Date

Order of Service | Living with Angels | Opening Introduction | Councillor Rimmer's Address
In An Angel Castle | No Poem or Play or Song | Concluding Remarks | Photographs

Over 200 people met at the Tree of Life for the unveiling of the first memorial especially dedicated to the memory of all the children involved in the organ retention scandal.

The Tree of Life stands in the centre of a memorial garden with an engraved plaque at its base which reads "TREE OF LIFE, In memory of all the children in the North West of England who were involved in organ retention. Dedicated to the children who changed the future. 'Never again'. PITY II"

A brass plaque dedicated to over fifty children and babies, from the area of St. Helens, was also unveiled. The inscription reads "This memorial is given by the people of St. Helens. To remember all the local children involved in organ retention. May God bless them and watch over them"

Sheila Rigby, from PITY II, said "These memorials are about recognising that our children were involved in organ retention and to remind us that we need to change the law so that this can never happen again! They are unique and are the first of their kind in the United Kingdom. Let us hope that they inspire others to recognise what happened to these children and that these memorials are not the last of their kind"

Councillor Rimmer, leader of St. Helens Council, said "We hope some comfort can be gained by the families from our recognition of their grief, hurt and loss" and went on to express her pride in the fact that the Council had quickly acknowledged and empathised with the families that had been affected by the tragedy of organ retention.