The first Infected Blood Memorial Commemorative Event took place at Church House on 19 November 2025. The event looked to gather early views from the community on memorialisation.
The first Infected Blood Commemorative Event was held on November 19th at Church House, London, gathering infected and affected members of the community. The purpose of the event was to start the conversation on Infected Blood Memorialisation, following the recommendations made by Sir Brian in the Inquiry's 2024 report. Sir Brian recommended that there be at least 3 gatherings of the community following the publication of his report. This was the first of those 3.The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Authority and the Cabinet Office also held sessions on Compensation in the afternoon.
For those of you who were unable to attend, or would like a reminder of what was covered on the day, you are able to access the YouTube live stream, the link for which appears at the bottom of this article.
Leadership and Committee Structure (YouTube 30:49:00 - 1:00:00)
The event was led by Clive Smith, Chair, and Joan Edgington, Vice-Chair, of the newly appointed Infected Blood Memorial Committee. The Committee aims to represent the diverse voices and lived experiences of the community.
The Committee will be following the recommendations made by Sir Brian:
- that there should be a national memorial
- a memorial at Treloars school
- and that consideration/support should be given to building and supporting memorials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Nine new community members, representing all cohorts and a wide geographical spread, have been appointed to the Committee: John Dearden, Gordon Dixon, Nigel Hamilton, Tom Koukoulis, Nicola Leahey, Neil Lewis, Clair Walton, Bessie Woodhouse, and William Wright OBE
The Memorialisation Process (YouTube 1:01:00 - 1:03:00)
The event heard that the first Committee meeting would take place before the end of the year. Within this meeting, the aims, approach and ways of working for the Committee would be agreed. All feedback shared so far by the community would be given to the Committee and from January the ideas gathering stage, which would first focus on location and then the type of memorial(s).
Inquiry Memorial (YouTube 1:03:00 - 1:09:00)
The event heard that the Inquiry's own memorial would find a permanent home at Manchester University, visible 24/7 in the Carriageway Arch of the Queen's Arch entrance. The university had committed to the permanent siting of the memorial in a publicly accessible area.
Community Input and Themes (YouTube 2:53:00 - 3:21:00)
Two sessions were led by Art Lewry and Morag Wood who were involved in the opening and closing hearings of the Inquiry. Their sessions focused on gathering detailed community views on memorialisation:
- Location: Suggested locations included London , the National Arboretum, and a central UK location. Accessibility (public transport, parking, facilities) was deemed highly important.
- Key Themes to Represent: Community feedback emphasized the need for the memorial to convey Victims and Loss, the Scale and Duration of the scandal, Injustice, and the community's Courage and Resilience.
- Desired Emotions: The memorial should evoke feelings of Loss and Grief, Injustice and Anger, alongside Reflection and Remembrance, Resilience and Strength, and Empathy and Acknowledgment.
- Most Important Element: The priority for many was individual recognition, overcoming stigma and visibility, and inclusive representation.
Updates on Existing and Specific Memorials (YouTube 3:50:00 - 3:56:00)
Scottish Memorial Update
The Scottish Infected Blood Memorial Working Group began their work almost 10 years ago and by 2022 they achieved their target of raising £40,000 towards the project. Following discussions with the Scottish Parliament, the intent had been for the Memorial to be built within the grounds of the Scottish Parliament, but in 2023 it became clear that this option was no longer viable. Work continues to find an appropriate location.
Treloars Memorial Update
A separate Treloars Memorial Committee, consisting of former pupils and a parent, has been established. They have secured planning permission and location for the memorial at Treloars school. The memorial will be a bronze sculpture of two boys on a granite plinth, located at the school entrance in Alton, Hampshire. The Committee hopes to complete the estimated £125,000 project by May 2026.
Conclusion
- Psychological Services: Free, comprehensive, and historically informed Infected Blood Psychological services are now operational across the whole of the UK via self-referral.
- Next Event: The next commemorative event will be a Memorial Service at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday 19 May 2026.
