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Photo exhibition to inspire memories of absent friends

Press release published

A thought provoking public exhibition on display at the Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow until 7 November 2014 will show how positive sharing stories of loved ones who have died can be.
 
The exhibition showcases winning entries from the Essence Of A Memory competition which ran recently as part of the Luminate Festival of Creative Ageing. The competition encouraged entrants to submit words and an image which evoke a memory of someone they love who is dead. 
 
Marie Curie is displaying the exhibition as part of To Absent Friends, a people’s festival of storytelling and remembrance, which runs for the first time this year from 1 - 7 November. The festival comprises a range of events focused around sharing stories and memories of dead friends and family. 
 
Shona Robinson, Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow, Hospice Manager said: “We’re inviting the local community to come into the hospice to view the exhibition, which is a fantastic way to show that bereavement isn’t something that should be hidden away, but is a normal part of everyone’s life experience. There are some poignant and thought provoking words and images on display but also some humour too.” 
 
Mark Hazelwood, Chief Executive of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care said: “In Scotland many of us struggle to know what to say or do around someone who’s been bereaved. All of us experience loss of some kind during our lives, and many people get something really positive from sharing memories and anecdotes of their dead loved ones.
 
“People who have died remain a part of our lives – their stories are our stories, yet many Scottish traditions relating to the expression of loss and remembrance have faded over time. The To Absent Friends festival is about reviving some of those traditions and creating new ones - giving people across Scotland an excuse to remember, to tell stories, to celebrate and to reminisce about people we love who have died.”
 
As well as viewing the exhibition at the hospice, at Springburn, people are also encouraged to share their memories and photos on social media with the hashtag #ToAbsentFriends.
 
To find out more about To Absent Friends visit: www.toabsentfriends.org.uk 
 
-ENDS-

Contact information

Gemma Smith
Senior Media and PR Officer

Updated

Notes to editor

Marie Curie is the leading charity providing care to people with any terminal illness in their own homes or in one of its nine hospices. The charity is also a leader in research into the best ways of caring for people with a terminal illness. In addition to this the charity designs and advises on end of life services and works to ensure that the best possible care and patient choice is at the heart of commissioning end of life care across the UK. All Marie Curie services are completely free of charge. Around 70% of the charity’s income comes from donations with the balance of funds coming from the NHS.

For more information visit www.mariecurie.org.uk
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To Absent Friends - www.toabsentfriends.org.uk

To Absent Friends, a people’s festival of storytelling and remembrance, is an opportunity for people to remember dead loved ones in whatever way works for them and their community. Planned events include a concert by the RSNO Quartet, participation at the Scotland vs Argentina viagogo Autumn Test rugby international on Saturday 8 November, and storytelling at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 1st November.  A full list of events is available here: http://www.toabsentfriends.org.uk/blogs/festival-blog/
 
In addition to this, a diverse range of smaller community events have been organised, many of which are listed here:
http://www.toabsentfriends.org.uk/blogs/news/
 
A film promoting To Absent Friends is available here: http://www.toabsentfriends.org.uk/content/about-film/
 
To Absent Friends was initiated by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief – www.goodlifedeathgrief.org.uk

Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief is an alliance of organisations and individuals working together to raise public awareness of ways of dealing with death, dying and bereavement, and promote community involvement in death, dying and bereavement.  Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief was establishedby the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care: http://www.palliativecarescotland.org.uk/