Creator of infected blood memorial proud of site

Alan Burgess is one of the founders of the Birch Grove memorial

A victim of the infected blood scandal has said creating a memorial for all the people affected is one of his proudest achievements.

Alan Burgess was 27 when he was told via a letter that he had tested positive for Aids after being given blood infected with the virus.

He is among the founders of Birch Grove, near Swindon, Wiltshire, an area of woodland home to 1,200 trees, with each one representing a person who was given blood infected with HIV or Hepatitis C during the 1970s and 1980s.

"It’s not just a grove, it’s full of people," Mr Burgess said.

The Birchgrove Group sponsored the planting of the trees in 1996 and a stone engraved with a tribute to the haemophiliacs who were infected is also located at the site.

A stone engraved with a tribute to those who were infected is located at the site

Mr Burgess, who is originally from Ipswich, was given infected blood while he was being treated for haemophilia.

He had been working as a painter and decorator at the time.

After receiving the diagnosis, he said he and his family had to "keep it all quiet" and he even hid the news from his children.

"Nobody would have had me in their house, nobody would have had me painting their house", he said.

"Everyday in the media, we were seeing people being ostracised."

Each tree represents a victim of what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history

Following the creation of the memorial site, Mr Burgess met others who had been affected by the scandal, which has been called the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history.

He said it had been "fantastic" to meet and bond with other victims over the years.

“[The memorial is] probably the proudest thing I’ve ever done because now families can come and just have a bit of quiet time here and just remember," he added.

“You look at a tree and you know you’re looking at a person.

"I see them, even though they’re not physically here.

"I still see them, still hear them and still feel the love that we had."