Local charity Farleigh Hospice has announced it will hold its annual 'Forget-me-Not' remembrance service in Chelmsford on Saturday 9 July.

Farleigh Hospice, which has charity shops in Heybridge and Maldon, has been providing hospice care to people affected by life-limiting illnesses and bereavement across mid Essex for forty years.

The remembrance service is the culmination of the charity's summer fundraising appeal and a celebration of this birthday milestone. 

Mark Cobbin, Head of Bereavement at Farleigh Hospice, said: "Our Forget-me-not appeal and remembrance service are thoughtful ways to celebrate the life of someone special and to support Farleigh.

"As this is our 40th birthday year, we are especially grateful to everyone who has responded and we are sending a Forget-me-not pin badge as a special thank you for every donation.

"We are also asking people to send us their thoughts and memories of the loved ones that they have lost. These precious messages will be displayed on a beautiful heart in the hospice sanctuary until the end of the year.

"They will also be the centrepiece of our special Forget-me-not service, which is being held in the grounds of Farleigh on Saturday 9 July at 2pm. Everyone is welcome, so please register for your free tickets and join us."

The short service will be held at Farleigh Hospice in Chelmsford and is open to anyone who would like to remember the life of a loved one. It will include a number of readings, performances from the Farleigh Hospice choir and live music, as well as a special children's session run by the charity's Yo-Yo team which provides bereavement support for children and young people.

The charity's Education Team has over four decades of palliative care experience. Delivering 2,722 hours of teaching on palliative care in 2020. Providing training to Broomfield, Halstead and Braintree hospital staff, Domiciliary Care Agencies as well as undertaking specialist training to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

However, it relies on fundraising, donations, and gifts left in Wills to provide vital services for local people affected by life-limiting illnesses.

To make a donation to Farleigh's Forget-me-Not appeal, and to book free tickets for the service, visit the website or call 01245 457351.