Memorial for babies buried in unmarked graves unveiled

Bereaved families said the memorial "brings closure"

A memorial to babies buried in unmarked graves in Wirral has been unveiled.

The plaque, in Landican Cemetery, commemorates "all babies lost" including those "whose resting place is unknown or who have no memorial".

It follows a campaign by bereaved families to locate the burial sites.

One mother, Gina Jacobs, who worked with Wirral Council cemetery staff to locate the unmarked graves, said she hoped the memorial would bring "comfort and peace" to families.

Before the 1980s stillborn babies or babies who died shortly after birth were taken away from families and usually buried in communal graves.

Gina Jacobs worked with Wirral Council to locate the burial sites

Ms Jacobs, whose son Robert was taken away from her immediately after giving birth, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "So many parents, mums and dads, have carried the pain and trauma of the practice of the past."

"I feel as if all the babies have been acknowledged. They have been given that dignity and respect as well as the parents who went through that at the time."

Pauline Roberts, whose daughter Paula Jane was still born in 1972 and buried with more than 60 other babies, said it was "wonderful to be able to find out where she was after all those years. It brings closure".

Diana Williams, whose son John died at Clatterbridge Hospital, said the campaign had "reached a milestone" and said it was "very gratifying seeing Gina being recognised for all she has done and to see the babies recognised".

The memorial plaque was unveiled at the baby memorial garden in Landican Cemetery

Wirral Mayor Jerry Williams said the memorial recognised families' suffering loss "in the past, present, and future".

"There are many parents and families whose babies were cremated or buried who still do not know where the final resting place is," he said.

"It is important that these parents and families have a place where they can grieve their loss and remember their lost children."

Councillollr Liz Grey, who chairs the committee which oversees Wirral's cemeteries, said she hoped "local families affected by the insensitive practices of the past are able to take some comfort in knowing there is somewhere for them to come where their loss is acknowledged and remembered".