Comedy night raises £3k for bereaved families

A charity comedy night in support of bereaved families has raised more than £3,000.

A line-up of comedians including Nish Kumar, Andrew Bird, Harriet Kemsley and Daniel Kitson held a show in support of Northamptonshire Health Charity's Twinkling Stars appeal.

The event was held in memory of Beatrix Rose Smith, known as Bea, who was "born sleeping" on 29 June 2020.

Her uncle, Ross Smith, organised the event, and said he did so "to raise awareness of baby loss and support the bereavement suite appeal, but above all, to let my niece know that she is never forgotten and always loved".

He said: "I've seen first-hand the awful impact baby loss can have on families, but I've also seen how crucial charities like Northamptonshire Health Charity are in letting families know they're not alone. I was honoured to support this cause."

The event last month, which marked what would have been Bea's fifth birthday, was held at the Bedford pub in Balham, London.

The Twinkling Stars appeal is raising funds to create a dedicated bereavement suite at Kettering General Hospital.

This specially designed space will give families who experience the loss of a baby a private, peaceful environment to grieve and spend precious time together – away from the main labour ward.

Bea's mum Christina said at the event: "When Bea was born sleeping, we were in the same area as other families having their babies.

"We could hear newborns crying next door. We had to use the same spaces as everyone else while going through the worst moments of our lives. It was deeply traumatic.

"A separate space would have made such a difference to us to have privacy, dignity, and some comfort in such devastating circumstances. That's why we want to make this happen for other families."

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.