Remembering Together at the Oban Memorial Event and Butterfly Release

11 Jun

On Saturday 30th May, MISS had the privilege of attending the Oban Memorial Event and Butterfly Release, organised by Susan Simpson, Co-Founder of Anam Cara Fasgadh (ACF).

Held within the beautiful grounds of Dunollie Castle, Grounds and Museum, home to the Oban Memorial Garden, the event provided a peaceful and supportive space for families to remember babies and children who were taken too soon.

The afternoon was filled with warmth, compassion and shared understanding. Families gathered together to honour their loved ones, speak openly if they wished, and find comfort in being surrounded by others who understood their loss. Names were spoken aloud, memories were shared, and gentle tears were shed in love and remembrance.

Attendees were also treated to a beautiful musical performance by Elissa Conway, who sang a selection of songs requested by families attending the event. The weather was kind to us, too, with the rain holding off until after the butterflies had been released, creating a truly special moment of reflection and remembrance.

We were delighted that our recently re-elected MSP, Jenni Minto, was able to attend and show her support. Before the butterfly release, Jenni read a moving poem and spent time speaking with attendees. A strong advocate for women's health, Jenni remains committed to maintaining contact with both MISS and Anam Cara Fasgadh despite stepping down from her role as Health Minister.

Launching Mailbox Memories in Oban

The Oban Memorial Event also marked the launch of MISS's newest remembrance initiative, Mailbox Memories.

After the loss of a baby, finding the words to express thoughts and feelings can be incredibly difficult. Whether your loss happened recently or many years ago, your baby remains part of your story. You may think about them during quiet moments, milestones, anniversaries, or simply in everyday life.

Some people find comfort in talking openly about their baby, while others prefer to remember quietly. There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

At MISS, we are committed to creating safe and comforting spaces where people can think, feel, remember and grieve in whatever way feels right for them.

Mailbox Memories provides a place where messages of love can be written, milestones marked, and thoughts and feelings shared. Each letter placed into the mailbox will eventually become part of a beautiful wildflower space, as the paper is embedded with wildflower seeds, allowing love and memories to blossom and grow.

The Oban Mailbox Memories installation is located beside the Tree of Tranquillity within the grounds of Dunollie Castle, Grounds and Museum.

The Tree of Tranquillity is a memorial tree managed by Anam Cara Fasgadh, offering families a lasting place of remembrance. Those wishing to dedicate a leaf in memory of their baby or child can find further information through Anam Cara Fasgadh.

Thank You

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make the Oban Mailbox Memories installation possible.

In particular, we would like to thank Malcolm Sinclair of Robertson Construction, who generously gave his time, skills and expertise to create the foundation and install the mailbox as part of Robertson's Social Impact Programme. Without his support, the mailbox would not have been ready in time for the memorial event.

We would also like to thank Caroline, Heritage Garden Lead at Dunollie Castle, Grounds and Museum, for her continued support in helping us find the perfect location for the mailbox and for her ongoing care of the memorial garden.