Hundreds of people come together to remember loved ones who have died
Bereaved families and friends gathered in Sydenham and Orpington to sing songs, listen to speeches and readings from community members and hospice staff, and to watch the lighting of our remembrance trees.
Each year, we invite people to dedicate a light in memory of their loved ones and donate to the hospice to help provide more support for the community into the future.
Wendy Blenman, 60, from Crystal Palace, spoke at this year’s event in Sydenham.
She attends every year with her family in memory of her mother, father and sister.
For Wendy, three of her daughters and five grandchildren, the event provides not only a perfect opportunity for the whole family to come together and think about those who have died, but also captures so many of the key elements of the way in which her mum lived and died.
Wendy’s ‘mum’, Anita Blenman, worked for years as a district nurse having arrived in England as part of the Windrush generation. Anita had a strong Christian faith, loved lighting candles and singing and was very much the matriarch of the family. Anita was also a foster carer for many years.
“How St Christopher’s does the event is just so Mum,” Wendy says.
Anita, who was actually Wendy’s grandmother but cared for her from a baby, died aged 91 in June 2022, having first been diagnosed with cancer in 1997.
After Anita had been in and out of hospital several times, Wendy, who’d cared for her mum for some time, and the family decided she should spend the rest of her life at home under the care of St Christopher’s which had previously provided her with physiotherapy, counselling and classes.
“It’s lovely that we can all be together and light candles to remember her, my sister and my Dad.”
Wendy says: “It meant that at the end of her life she could be in her own house in Penge with all five generations of the family around her. We got the Reverend in, said prayers and sang songs and psalms.”
She adds: “She was instrumental in everyone’s life – the glue in our family. If she said it, it went. She carried on looking after her great, great grandchildren right up until when she was in her hospital bed in the house.”
Rev Dr Andrew Goodhead, Lead Chaplain at St Christopher’s, says:
“It was wonderful to see hundreds of people come and light up the night sky in memory of their loved ones.
“When someone important to us dies, we remember them all year round. They come to mind often during our daily lives – as we remember their life with family and friends, recall something they taught us, when we’re cooking their favourite meal or listening to a piece of music.
“I know there are also particular times of year when we might feel their loss more keenly. Winter is one of those times, for many people, because it is a time so many of us gather to celebrate with family and friends.
“This is why St Christopher’s always offers everyone in our community the opportunity to dedicate a light, or lights, on our remembrance trees to recall during people whose memories they hold dear, the festive season.
“Thank you to everyone who came to our events in Orpington and in Sydenham.”
There’s still time to shine a light
If you’d still like to make a dedication, your light will be on display on our trees until 6 January 2026.
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