SUDEP Action Memorial Service held in London

We held our London Memorial Service on 10 May 2014 at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, in London.  The service is held in memory of those who have died from epilepsy and is open to people of any or no faith.  

The event brought together 160 people and started with an opening prayer from Reverend Lucy Winkett who led the service.  This was followed by a welcome message from Chair of Trustees Professor Stephen Brown. 

Hollie Cradduck read the poem ‘Feel no guilt in laughter, she’d know how much you care’ in memory of her niece Rosie Carter.  The very talented Jane South who attended to remember her brother Joe South performed ‘The Feather Theme’ by Alan Silvestre on piano. Jane also performed ‘Winter Born’, on Flute, which she wrote in memory of her brother. This was followed by a reading from Roger Scrivens in honour of his daughter Becky Scrivens. 

Reverend Lucy Winkett led the reading of names of those who have died from epilepsy. Jennifer Preston, one of the SUDEP Action founders who attended to remember her son William Preston, read a message from Epilepsy Australia. After this, Julia Stirling read the poem ‘Oneness’ by Thich Nhat Hanh in honour of her sister Catherine Stirling.

Jane South commented: “Thank you for a really special and wonderful Memorial Service. It was such a special and moving event, it was really lovely how the SUDEP Action team and the Trustees looked after everyone. It was really touching and supportive and gave a really great space for people to just 'be' in a warm supportive atmosphere.” 

“It was a real pleasure to play that piece for everyone; it was a big step forward personally and really great that the piece was nice for people to hear. It was also really special for me to meet people who'd shared this kind of loss for the first time in my life, and who talked so openly, as well as some of the amazing people who had set up the charity and work so hard for it”.

Patricia Fitzgibbon added: “The service and readings were beautiful, and the music just wonderful it brought every emotion out of you, but so heartfelt.” 

Hollie Cradduck said: “beautiful memorial service by SUDEP Action. Loved to meet everyone and feel I am not alone in continued grief.  Rosie’s memory will live on.”

Jennifer Neesham was there to remember her son Christopher Nasheem, she commented: “Just to say that I found the Service a really warm and comforting experience and that the booklet is lovely too. Everything around it was something I will always remember too.” 

Sandra Sandland attended the service to remember her daughter Carolyn Sandland who died in October 2005. Sandra said: “We will always be sad, but it is so important to have these gatherings and gain support.  It is always important to comfort one another and the charity enables us to do that.  It is very much a supportive family. The charity is like a family to me.”

“Three of Carolyn’s friends attended the memorial; we went for lunch afterwards, which was really special for me.  It was all wonderful and many thanks to the charity.”
Families and friends also took time to sign the SUDEP Action Book of Condolences.

We wish to thank everyone who attended our Memorial Service and sharing this important day with us. We appreciate the opportunity to join together in memory of those who have died from epilepsy.

Readings

Feel No Guilt in Laughter (author unkown)

Feel no guilt in laughter; she'd know how much you care.
Feel no sorrow in a smile that she is not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever; she would not want you to.
She'd hope that you could carry on the way you always do.
So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared,
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you, a word someone may say
Will suddenly re-capture a time, an hour a day,
That brings her back so clearly as though she were still here,
And fills you with the feeling that she is always near.
For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart
And she will live forever locked safely in your heart.

Oneness by Thich Nhat Hanh

Forever Remembered by Injete Chesoni
Even after life is gone
In our hearts your love lingers on
Even after you have left our sight
In our thoughts your light shines bright
Even after you are gone
In our memories you forever live on.