Saying Goodbye Ambassadors
Saying Goodbye is delighted to have the following wonderful people as our ambassadors. We are so grateful for their support and statements endorsing our work.
Professor Lord Robert Winston
Ambassador
Professor Lord Robert Winston is a professor, medical doctor, scientist and television presenter.
Statement of Support
Miscarriage and stillbirth is often something that’s not acknowledged or talked about in the UK, and people certainly do not appreciate how utterly distressing it is for parents, and indeed their extended families. It’s a loss of a precious life, and whether the loss happens in early or late pregnancy, at birth or in infancy it’s traumatic, and a natural grief process must be allowed to happen. Sadly a lot of doctors and nurses see loss on such a regular basis, the right support and follow up advice is just not offered, which results in vast amount of parents never coming to terms with losing their baby, and sadly they are not able to move forward with their lives as they become stuck in a cycle of grief.
I am delighted to be an ambassador for The Mariposa Trust an organisation dealing with the suffering caused by miscarriage and stillbirth, by not only offering crucial support to those who need it, but by also working with hospitals, trusts and many other key organisations to support and advise on fundamental changes that can help bereaved individuals. The primary division is Saying Goodbye - Saying Goodbye offers support and befriending to anyone who has lost a baby, and it also runs national remembrance services, which allow families to come together to mourn their lost babies. The services are held at cathedrals across the UK, and more information can be found at www.sayinggoodbye.org. The charities support is offered by six divisions, another one of them being GrowingYou which offers support to anyone who is pregnant following loss, as the fear of losing again can be profound for many people: www.growingyou.org.
The charity was founded by Zoe and Andrew Clark-Coates, who themselves have lost five babies. Having experienced this agonising pain and grief themselves, they are perfectly placed to not only offer wonderful support but also to be a voice in the national media and at a governmental level.
I am so proud to be supporting the Mariposa Trust and their ground-breaking work. Because of the vast range of services and support the charity offers, families are now better supported and know that their loss has been recognised. The causes of miscarriage and stillbirth still need to be more widely understood, but this dynamic organisation is helping tens of thousands of people each and every month.
Baroness Floella Benjamin
Ambassador
Baroness Floella Benjamin is best known as a children's TV presenter, and for her work as a campaigner for children's rights and safety. As a Peer in the House of Lords, she is leading the Mariposa Trust bill looking at the introduction of a National Loss Certificate.
Nigella Lawson
Ambassador
Nigella Lawson is a food writer, journalist and broadcaster - best known as a TV Chef.
Kym Marsh
Ambassador
Kym Marsh is an Award Winning Actress and Singer, who over the past 15-years has become a household name in the UK. She is a passionate campaigner for change, and personally knows the pain of loss, after the loss of her son Archie in 2009.
Mary Nightingale
Ambassador
Mary Nightingale is one of the most familiar faces on TV, as one of the main presenters of the ITN News
Sally Phillips
Ambassador
Sally Phillips has for the last 15-years blazed a trail as a comedy actress and writer. She has starred in blockbusters such as the Bridget Jones trilogy, as well as in TV shows such as Miranda and Smack the Pony and on numerous Radio shows.
Jools Oliver
Ambassador
Jules Oliver is an author and fashion designer. She's a mum of five and is married to the TV Chef and Healthy Eating campaigner Jamie Oliver.
Hope Sizer
Ambassador
Hope is the charities youngest Ambassador, but has already carved a career in entertainment. She has starred as Lilly Potter in Harry Potter the Cursed Child, for 9 months in the West End, works as a presenter for Kidspiration TV http://www.kidspiration.tv/kids/hope/, has spent 2 years with 'Into film' as a young red carpet reporter conducting interviews with top celeb's including Hugh Jackman and many more, and has presented on CBBC and more...
Gabby Logan
Ambassador
Gabby is a TV Presenter, Sports Presenter, Journalist and former Gymnast.
Lou Conran
Lou Conran is an award winning Comedian who tragically suffered baby loss herself, and is passionate about breaking down the taboo's that surround the subject. She also took on a monumental challenge to raise £50K for the charity.
Sarah Hadland
Ambassador
Sarah Hadland is an English actress best known for her role as Stevie Sutton in the BBC One BAFTA-nominated comedy television series Miranda.
Caroline Quentin
Ambassador
Caroline Quentin is an actress and comedienne, who over the last three decades has entertained the nation.
Adele Silva
Ambassador
Adele Silva is a well-known TV and Stage Actress and TV Personality who for nearly 20-years has appeared in shows such as Emmerdale, Eastenders, Dr Who and more.
Ronni Ancona
Ambassador
Veronica "Ronni" Ancona is a Scottish actress, impressionist and author. She first became well-known as a result of appearing in the BBC's BAFTA award winning The Big Impression.
Jo Elvin
Ambassador
Jo Elvin is the editor of 'You' magazine in the Mail on Sunday, having been the editor-in-chief at Glamour for 17-years. She is also a regular on TV and radio.
Jaci Velasquez
Ambassador
Jaci Velasquez is an American actress and contemporary singer and songwriter. She has sold almost 5,000,000 albums worldwide. Recorded 3 platinum and 3 gold albums, and recorded 16 singles that hit number 1, plus 6 more that entered the top 10. She has received 7 'Dove' awards, as well as 3 'Grammy' nominations, 5 'Latin Billboard Award' nominations, and an 'American Music Award' nomination.
Jacque Gerrard
Ambassador
Dr Jacque Gerrard is the former Royal College of Midwives Director for England and now works as a Midwifery Consultant.
I am absolutely delighted to be an ambassador of Saying Goodbye charity. The help and support that this charity provides to families who have suffered the loss of a baby through pregnancy and childbirth is unique. The sensitive service gives families a real opportunity to say their goodbyes in a supportive but positive environment irrespective of the gestation of the pregnancy loss or age of the baby.
Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE
Ambassador
Jacqueline is visiting Professor of Midwifery at Kings College London and London South Bank University. Her experience has led to her leading and influencing national maternity standards and guidance both nationally and internationally through research, education and publications.
Kathryn Gutteridge
Ambassador
Kathryn is a Consultant Midwife and is the current President of the Royal College of Midwives. Kathryn is an experienced author and presenter on both a national and international circuit, specialising in emotional wellbeing during childbirth and women maintaining control over their choices.
Julie Etchingham
Ambassador
Julie Etchingham is a British television newsreader and journalist. She is the co-presenter of ITV News at Ten.
Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York
Ambassador
Dr John Sentamu has been the Archbishop of York since 2005. It is the 2nd highest position in the Church of England.
Professor Lesley Regan
Ambassador
Professor Lesley Regan Is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Imperial College and Heads the Department at St Mary’s Hospital, London.
[toggle title_open="Statement of Support" title_closed="Statement of Support" hide="yes" border="no" style="default" excerpt_length="0" read_more_text="Read More" read_less_text="Read Less" include_excerpt_html="no"]In my work as Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Imperial College, as Head of Department at St Mary's Hospital, London and Director of the largest recurrent miscarriage clinic in the world, I see daily the devastating effect that loss during pregnancy, at birth or in infancy has on mothers, fathers and extended families. Often, people are faced with questions as to why the loss has happened. What has gone wrong? Sadly there is often no definitive answer, so most never understand, and they are just left with the grief and agony, and tragically no baby to hold.
Currently prior to 24-weeks gestation, no birth certificate is issued, and in the majority of cases no service of remembrance conducted. Saying Goodbye is stepping into that gap, and is conducting the first national set of remembrance services. These are being held at cathedrals and minsters the length and breadth of the country, are free to attend, and aim to bring together thousands of people to acknowledge the lives lost. The services will be a time to remember, to mourn and to gain support and help from people who know and understand where you are at, and what you are going through. They are also passionately working to improve the standard of care for women who miscarry and have still births, and provide support both pre and post loss.
I have become an Ambassador of Saying Goodbye, as I strongly believe in what they are doing and in their heart to help those in need, bringing peace to the hurting and grieving. I urge you to come to the services, invite others you know to come along and follow Saying Goodbye on their website www.sayinggoodbye.org and on Twitter @SayinggoodbyeUK[/toggle]
Lisa Bevere
Ambassador
Lisa Bevere is an internationally renowned author and speaker.
Ruby Hammer MBE
Ambassador
Ruby Hammer MBE is an internationally acclaimed Fashion and Beauty Make-up Artist, Columist, co-founder of Ruby & Millie and co-founder and director of Scarlett & Crimson Cosmetics.
Professor Lesley Page
Ambassador
Lesley Page is president and board member of the Royal College of Midwives. Lesley is Visiting Professor of Midwifery at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London.
Statement of Support
As a midwife for many years, and through my community of family and women friends, I am aware of the terrible grief of the loss of a baby, through miscarriage or stillbirth. I remember when ‘it’ was not spoken about and the parents were left in a shadowy bereavement where grief could not be shown or was not recognised.
When I was Professor of Midwifery at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London I was contacted by a woman who had lost her baby in miscarriage many decades before, and she contacted me to ask if I knew where her baby might have been buried. She had never forgotten.
Zoe and Andrew Clark Coates the Founders of Saying Goodbye know this grief, the grief of loss of your baby and also the promise of new life, of a newly formed family, of joy. Saying goodbye to the baby you love is heartbreaking.
I am delighted to act as Ambassador for this wonderful new organisation that offers National services and International support to all those who know loss first hand, or for the extended family, who also feel the pain, when a baby passes away either in pregnancy, at birth or in early years.
The services will take place at Cathedrals and Minsters around the UK, and I know they will be pivotal to so many people who want to mark their loss and remember their babies. To have others recognise the significance of a person’s loss is also a key to the healing process.
Canon J John & Killy John
Ambassador
Canon J.John and Killy live in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, and have three sons. J John is a popular Christian speaker and has also written over 50 books.
Chris and Alyssa Quilala
Ambassador
Chris and Alyssa Quilala are from Sacramento, California, where Chris is the lead singer of the band 'Jesus Culture', and Alyssa works as an author and blogger. They suffered the sad loss of their son Jethro in 2014, and have 3 other wonderful children.
Professor Sir Cary L Cooper CBE
Ambassador
Professor Cary L Cooper CBE is a Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health. He is the author/editor of over 120 books, has written over 400 scholarly articles for academic journals, and is a frequent contributor to national newspapers, TV and radio.
Statement of Support
As a father of four and a grandfather of two very young grandchildren, the most important thing in my life are all these children. The thought of how I would cope if I lost anyone of them, is too overwhelming to even contemplate. This organisation is tackling an issue that for far too long has been ignored. Parents who have lost a child need the support that Saying Goodbye provides, and I look forward to helping them in any way I can. I will always think of my own family, and appreciate what I have, as I work to support Saying Goodbye.
Bernie Nolan
Former Ambassador
Bernie Nolan who sadly passed away earlier in 2013, was one of the original Ambassadors for Saying Goodbye. She was an actress, singer, television personality, and formerly the lead singer of the girl group, The Nolans. She is sadly missed.
Denise Robertson MBE
Former Ambassador
Denise Robertson MBE was best known as the Agony Aunt for ITV’s ‘This Morning’ until her death in 2016. She was one of the original Ambassadors for the charity and will be sadly missed.