The Commemorative Family Tree Scheme

The West Avenue of Trees at Wimpole Hall

The British Organ Donor Society, Balsham, Cambridge CB1 6DL.
Telephone/Fax: 01223 893636 (fax please phone first).

E-mail to: body@argonet.co.uk

Commemorative Service

This year's BODY Annual Commemorative and Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday 16 September 2001 at 12.30 pm at Wimpole Parish Church.

Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire is a National Trust property of some 3000 acres which includes the 300 acre Wimpole Park. In the early 1970s many trees originally planted to designs by Capability Brown, Charles Bridgeman and Charles Repton had died or needed replacing.

The West Avenue at Wimpole

In January 1986 the Bishop of Huntingdon blessed the replanted 76 tree West Avenue in memory of all internal organ and tissue donors up to this date. Trees were symbolically planted by recipients, surgeons and others representing various aspects of organ donation. Avenue trees are available for adoption by organisations involved or supporting organ donation and transplantation.

So far some 150 trees have been adopted in the Park by donor families in memory of a loved one or by recipients and their families as a gesture of thanks to an unknown, or sometimes known, donor. The trees are a living memorial to last for generations to come.

Sign marking the West Avenue

Each September there is a Transplant Commemorative and Thanksgiving Service for those who are involved or interested (this year it will be on 16th September 2001). An integral part of the Service is the Tree Ceremony when a symbolic tree representing all adopted trees is blessed. Those adopters present find it a moving experience to view the trees in the company of other donor and recipient families. Many other members, unable to be present, also participate in spirit.

Adopters receive an Adoption Pack containing a Certificate, Photograph of their tree, the relevant Order of Service and details of Wimpole Park and Hall.

BODY is grateful to The National Trust and the Countryside Commission who support this joint venture.

(This page is reproduced by kind permission of the British Organ Donor Society. Please visit their web page for further information about the society.)