Festival 2026

40 Years On…

Organised by North Berwick Coastal Community Connections

Wednesday 4 November, 2-4pm

Hope Rooms, North Berwick

This activity is open to the public. Please register in advance.

Absent Friends Week is a national festival of storytelling and remembrance - a space to remember those who are no longer with us and share the stories that keep them present in our lives. This year, Coastal Community Connections explores Legacy Burdens – the expectations, beliefs and behaviours around grief that we inherit from our families, communities and wider culture. These can shape how we think grief should look, what we feel able to express and what we learn to keep hidden. 

In this workshop Annemieke takes us on a personal voyage, exploring the shaping factors surrounding a father’s death. Drawing on what she has learned, and continues to learn, from her own journey, Annemieke shines a light on an often-overlooked aspect of bereavement: how losing a parent during childhood can continue to influence and shape us throughout our lives. This event is for all but may be of particular interest to adults who experienced bereavement during childhood.

Find out more and book your free place here.