Blaydon and Consett MP Hosts Exhibition Commemorating Lives Lost To Suicide

Families from County Durham and Darlington came together in parliament this week for a poignant exhibition honouring loved ones lost to suicide.

A National Quilt Project of Remembrance

The exhibition features suicide memorial quilts created by groups from across the UK under the banner Speak Their Name. Each quilt square represents an individual who has died, with every design created by their family and friends. Twenty quilts were displayed, including three from the North East branch of Speak Their Name and one from Northumberland.

The exhibition was organised by Liz Twist MP, Member of Parliament for Blaydon and Consett. Liz chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention, which brings together MPs from all parties to encourage Government action to tackle suicide.

Remembering Bill Million

Among the many touching tributes was a quilt square celebrating the life of scientist Bill Million, who grew up in the Grove in Consett. While Bill’s father and brothers worked in Consett Steelworks, he pursued a career in science and later worked at pharmaceutical company Pfizer in Kent. There, he led a team that developed a leading immunotherapy drug to treat AIDs. The team later travelled to Washington DC to receive an award recognising their achievement.

Bill faced significant personal challenges, including the loss of his daughter to cancer at the age of 23.

In later years, he took his own life.

Two of Bill’s nieces, Wendy and Janet, travelled from Kent to attend the exhibition launch in parliament.

Janet said

“Being involved with the project has brought many memories back, and it’s made us realise just how many other families are affected. We feel strongly that we want to speak for Bill. Help needs to be there to support people who struggle to share their feelings.”

North East Families Share Their Stories

Also attending the launch were Tracey Beadle, from County Durham, and Suzanne Howes, from Newcastle, representing the North East branch of Speak Their Name. The region’s three quilts contain 120 individual squares designed by bereaved families at workshops held across County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Teesside.

Suzanne said

“Tracey and I were incredibly proud to represent the North East suicide bereaved families at the national exhibition. It was hugely moving to see the powerful artworks from across the UK come together, and shine a light on the impact of suicide loss. The Speak Their Name movement continues to grow across the country and we know we are having an impact on both those bereaved to suicide and those viewing the quilts on tour”.

Raising Awareness in Westminster

The quilts were displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall in Westminster for a week, with the aim of raising awareness of suicide and its impact among MPs.

Liz Twist MP said

“It is my privilege to bring this exhibition to parliament. There is no better way to demonstrate that every individual lost to suicide is not just a statistic, but a real person, with family, friends, and work colleagues who all feel the impact of that loss. I am pleased that the Government have committed to reducing the number of suicides, expanding Mental Health Support Teams in schools, recruiting 8,500 new mental health workers, and reforming the Mental Health Act. However, there is always more that can be done, and I will continue to work hard to push for action in parliament.”