Masonic Lodges across Bath have come together to help bereaved families at the RUH, by fundraising towards the hospital’s new ‘Forget-Me-Not’ Child Bereavement Suite in the Maternity Unit.
This vital project will provide grieving parents with a safe and comforting space to spend time with their baby.
Specifically, the Masons are planning to fund the extension of the room, with an addition of a lounge and kitchen area, providing privacy for parents at this incredibly difficult time.
Three Masonic Lodges across Bath (The Royal Albert Edward, St. Alphege and Royal Cumberland Lodges) raised over £7500 for the Suite, allowing parents to take the necessary time to form precious memories with their babies.
There are a few services that are offered to parents, including a free photographer for keepsake black and white photos, and also hand and foot paint printing.
The maternity staff are keen to allow the family as much time as they need with their loved ones, and so the addition of a lounge and kitchen area would enable this.
Following the decision of the Royal Albert Edward Lodge, led by Worshipful Master Phil Cottrell, to support this incredibly worthwhile cause, a rather touching coincidence was realised.
At that time the new Child Bereavement Suite had not been named, but soon after, staff in the Maternity Unit decided upon the ‘Forget-Me-Not Suite’. Coincidentally, the Forget-Me-Not has long been a symbol associated with Freemasonry, dating back to the late 1930s following Hitler’s rise to power in Germany, when the flower was adopted as an emblem of the Masons to replace the square and compasses.
At the time Freemasonry, with its ideals of humanity and tolerance, began to be persecuted by Hitler and the Nazi Regime. As a result, Freemasonry was forced underground, and this small flower allowed Masons to identify other brothers in public as well as in concentration camps in Europe.
In 1948, when Lodges reopened following World War ll, the Forget-Me-Not became the official Masonic emblem in honour of the valiant Masons who carried on their Masonic work under extremely adverse conditions.
The Forever Friends Appeal say they are incredibly grateful to the Bath Masonic Lodges for their generosity and hard work in supporting the Forget-Me-Not Project.
Claudia Hickin, Community Fundraiser at The Appeal, added: “It has been wonderful working with the Bath Masons who are a truly generous and kind group of people.
“After seeing the plans for the Suite, it was heart-warming to see the continued passion and support from the Masons, and we at The Appeal are so grateful.”
