Saying Goodbye Ambassadors

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.

Nigella Lawson is a food writer, journalist and broadcaster - best known as a TV Chef.

Mary Nightingale is one of the most familiar faces on TV, as one of the main presenters of the ITN News

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.

Gabby is a TV Presenter, Sports Presenter, Journalist and former Gymnast.

Sarah Hadland is an English actress best known for her role as Stevie Sutton in the BBC One BAFTA-nominated comedy television series Miranda.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dr John Sentamu has been the Archbishop of York since 2005. It is the 2nd highest position in the Church of England.

Lisa Bevere is an internationally renowned author and speaker.

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.

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.

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.