We were first approached by Fife Council 2 years ago to create a memorial garden in St Andrews Western Cemetery for babies who had been born at Craigtoun Hospital from 1951 to the early 1980s.

After much discussion it was agreed that the memorial should be situated in the area where the babies were laid to rest. A sub-committee was formed to manage the project and fundraise, including 4 parents whose babies were buried within the cemetery and a target of £5000 set. Through a combination of donations and fundraising events we exceeded the total within 18 months.

At the end of March, in preparation for the dedication service, we contacted several local papers and we were completely overwhelmed with the response. Within 3 weeks we went from having only 5 names on the stone to 44. This lead to a flood of publicity with a two page spread in the Daily Record, where Margaret Litster was happy to tell her story and Margaret recorded a piece for the Scottish evening news in the cemetery whilst I did a telephone interview with local radio.

For many of the families, reading the articles in the newspapers was the first they knew where their babies may have been buried. We have been able to trace the exact lairs for a number of babies which has brought much comfort and tears, and we have been able to help families obtain either stillbirth certificates or birth and death certificates – some mums had been so ill at the time of birth, they had been unsure of exact dates of birth.

The stories we have heard are very similar and have brought many tears – how different things were then, just a relatively short space of time ago. Even those babies who lived for a short time, if they were not expected to live, the families were not allowed to see them. A few mums have told me of their babies living for days but being told to consider them stillborn, to go home and have another one. Very few knew what had happened to their babies, and all that many had was a receipt from the undertakers for a coffin.

The service was well received and some of the feedback has been truly wonderful. The service was led by Rev. Valerie Watson from St Leonard’s Church in St Andrews, and comprised readings as well as music provided by a pair of clarinettists, and special thanks to Andrew Scott from Tayside Sands who travelled down from Pitlochry to sing his song, ‘Sweet Child of Mine’. Finally, in a really touching gesture, the dedication of the stone was carried out by Canon Halloran, dressed in the robes he wears for babies' christenings. The service ended with a blessing, and all families present were given a commemorative booklet containing the whole service and little favours were also given to the mums. Despite the rain, the service went well and although very emotional, it brought peace and comfort to all present. Afterwards, we had afternoon tea at a nearby hotel which gave everyone a chance to chat and reflect on the service.

Jo-Anna Fraser, Chair Fife Sands