A stillborn baby is now finally at rest after more than 60 years of torment for his mother. Lilian Thorpe, from Stalybridge, gave birth to a stillborn baby boy in 1961.
Tragically, she never had the chance to see or hold him before he was taken away. Hospitals would deal with all the arrangements at the time.
Now, Lilian finally has a lasting memorial to her son, at Hyde Cemetery. The 86-year-old never knew where her stillborn baby boy had been buried.
But after decades of mystery and heartbreak, Lilian finally discovered her son's resting place earlier this year. Mike Gurney, head of bereavement services at Tameside Council, searched the borough's burial records.
He eventually discovered the details in the burial register for Hyde Cemetery. The moving moment Lilian discovered where her son had been buried was captured by BBC North West Tonight in May, and after being moved by the footage, Droylsden-based BA Hodcroft Memorial Masons agreed to donate a headstone for her son.
After taking an emotional look at the headstone, Lilian said: “I’m so grateful to the stonemasons for this wonderful gesture. For a long time it felt like I had two boys but now I know where he is resting I know I have three.
“It’s such a relief to have somewhere to visit where we can share some quiet moments together.” Mr Gurney offers the same service for other Tameside families whose babies were stillborn in years gone by.
He said: “Babies were placed in public graves in those days and there was a stiff upper lip attitude where the hospitals thought it was right for families to just get on with their lives, but looking back that probably had a detrimental effect on the mum’s and dad’s mental health when they’ve not known where their babies were. It's a privilege to be able to show people where their babies are but it's sad that they've not known for all these years.
"It’s really important to start the closure for people and I’d urge anyone who needs our help to contact us.” Coun Denise Ward, Tameside Council executive member for climate emergency and environmental services, added: “If there’s anyone in Tameside who is trying to find where their baby is buried, please get in touch with our team.
"Please bear in mind, we can only locate any stillborn children if the stillbirth took place within a Tameside hospital.” Anyone needing support in finding their baby’s resting place in Tameside can contact the team on CemeteriesandCrematorium@tameside.gov.uk or call 0161 342 4461.
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