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Remember a loved one this Suffolk Day

02 May 2018
Over 4,000 candles will glow as the sun sets on the county on Suffolk Day as hundreds of people gather together to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones no longer with us.

Suffolk Remembers, organised by St Elizabeth Hospice, will take place in Felixstowe seafront gardens on Thursday 21 June and the opportunity for people to dedicate a candle in the memory of someone they love is now open.

Pauline Donkin, the charity’s individual support manager, said: “Suffolk Remembers gives local people the opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of loved ones no longer with us. In doing so, they will support our vital work across east Suffolk so we can continue to help people living with a progressive or terminal illness, and their families, in our local community.

“Each dedicated candle will bear the name of the person being remembered and these will join 4,000 others to spell out the words Suffolk Remembers on giant boards which will be placed in the gardens as part of the event. Once these are in place there will be a time for quiet reflection as we remember those no longer with us.”

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Wayne Bavin will compere the evening and Pop Chorus, who produced the popular song ‘Always’ in aid of the hospice before Christmas, and Martlesham Brass will provide the music.

The event is free to attend and open to anyone who would like to remember someone. Mrs Donkin continued: “Those attending do not need to have experience of hospice services and their loss could have been recent or many years ago. We also welcome people who would like to remember a loving pet as we know that animals are important members of the family too. Dogs on leads are of course welcome to join their owners at the event.”

The candles will remain on view in the gardens until Monday 25 June. Following the event, their memory will live on through our Suffolk Remembers website where all dedicated candles will continue to burn until Saturday 21 July.

Cllr Nick Barber, Mayor of Felixstowe, in support of the event said: “I was honoured to attend this event last year and am delighted that the event will be returning to Felixstowe as part of Suffolk Day again. While everyone will be celebrating the wonderful county of Suffolk, this event allows us to celebrate what truly makes this country great; our people.”

The event in the seafront gardens (next to the Spa Pavilion) will begin at 9pm, ending around an hour later.

Dedicate a candle or find out more about the events on Thursday 21 June.