To Absent Friends | Festival blog

Falkirk Football Club remembers absent friends

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:50:00 +0000

Falkirk FC became the first football club to participate in To Absent Friends, supporting people to celebrate and remember the lives of players, fans, supporters and others connected with the club who have died. This is their entry in the Match Day Programme:

Staff reflection in GRI

Rebecca Patterson — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:29:00 +0000

Tayside Death Cafe

Rebecca Patterson — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 17:22:00 +0000

remembering in Cambuslang

Site administrator — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 10:10:00 +0100

Cambuslang Bereavement Support Group meets twice a month to support people in the community in their bereavement. The group are volunteers, committed to providing a safe place for people to meet, talk about their experiences and know they are not alone.

To Absent Friends provided an amazing opportunity for us to link in with the annual remembering service, held in the local parish church on November 2nd at 2.30pm. The bereavement support group took part in this service, raising awareness of the group and offering ongoing support to those who attend. This was a community event, open to all, and the group were delighted to encourage an opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have died. Yes, it was sad, but there were also tears of joy.

Celebrating David's life

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:36:00 +0100

David Sharp came to Carberry Care Home in April 2013. You could describe him as ‘old school’. He observed and listened to everything going on around him. He had a quirky and mischievious sense of humour.

memories of grandad

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:58:00 +0100

Cuimhneachain – Memories

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:56:00 +0100

Growing up on the Island of Lewis on the north west of Scotland, the sharing of good food and stories are still part of the tradition at a time of bereavement.

remembrance tree

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:55:00 +0100

On the 7th November 2014, at Peacock Nursing Home in Livingston we invited past and present residents' families to join us in a celebration of absent family and friends.

Nursing Memories

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:54:00 +0100

In our work on bereavement and within our own teaching we have found a number of nursing students have encountered bereavements, personally or professionally. Within classes there is little opportunity to discuss bereavement or grief– and little ‘thinking time’ to consider the wider aspects of our own mortality. Often students feel isolated, and there aren't many forums where discuss bereavement in a safe and informal

Talk the untalkable

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:54:00 +0100

NHS Fife held a conference for health and social care professionals focusing on promoting more openness about death, dying and bereavement in Fife.

Wigtown Remembers

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:51:00 +0100

A 20 foot Memorial Wall was fixed on the famous town railings of the broadest town square in Scotland in Wigtown. People of Wigtown, young and old, were invited to share on this wall names, memories, stories and photos to celebrate the lives of dead loved ones.

People were invited to join us for free wee refreshment and baking, and a toast ‘tae absent friends’ in ReadingLasses Bookshop and Cafe at 3.30 on 5th November. Our local writers' group, the Booktown Writers, attended the Toast to share and collect stories.

Storytelling and drama at the YMCA

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:51:00 +0100

Story and drama have long been used as devices to assist children to understand situations which may be complex and difficult to grasp in logical terms. With the help of gifted story-teller, Daru McAleese, children attending Penicuik YMCA after school club had the opportunity to take part in a participative story telling session which sensitively explored the themes of loss and grief.

mothers remembering mothers

Rebecca Patterson — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:03:00 +0100

Musical Memories

Rebecca Patterson — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:22:00 +0100

Thousands of older people live in Care Homes in Scotland, and most will at some point have experienced the death of close family or friends. How do Care Homes provide positive opportunities for residents to share stories and reminiscences of dead loved ones?

Beer mat chat

Site administrator — Tue, 25 Mar 2014 15:01:00 +0000

Earlier this year, a friend and I were in a pub in Rose Street and somehow, I can’t remember how, the subject got round to people we each used to know, but who are no longer with us – because they’ve died. I talked about Chris – I remembered how he loved going up hills. He had legs about 8 foot long and never seemed to get out of breath. I’d be sweating and gasping like pig behind him. He was like a dog let off the lead whenever he got on the hill. One time he did his ankle, and it was pitch black before we got down. I often think about him if I’m walking on a hill somewhere.