Haworth couple part of Westminster quilts initiative

Nineteen quilts from across Britain, produced in memory of people lost to suicide, were displayed at the Houses of Parliament.

They included the Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt.

Speak Their Name, which now has charity status, helps people bereaved by suicide.

Amongst those involved are Haworth husband-and-wife Roger Cunliffe and Anna Scott, who lost their daughter Ellen to suicide in 2017.

“We were at the Houses of Parliament with the Yorkshire Speak Their Name Quilt and all the other quilts and spoke to MPs about suicide and suicide prevention,” they said.

“The impact of the exhibition on MPs was huge.

“We hope ultimately to have a quilt for every county, and to tour the exhibition to all UK parliaments.

“It was quite amazing to speak to, and get support from, so many MPs.”

Roger added that it had been a huge operation to assemble the quilts.

He said: “One of the logistical problems was getting 19 quilts together from different parts of Britain – the quilt furthest north was in Edinburgh, and in the south Somerset and Cornwall.

“As a charity we started contacting organisations to help with the delivery of these precious quilts to Parliament.

“Royal Mail – via Parcelforce – made its professional colleagues at Relay and eCourier available to safely bring all of the memorial quilts to Parliament at no cost, which was absolutely fantastic.

“We thank the couriers for their considerate and careful handling of the quilts, and their sensitive interactions with our Speak Their Name creators. Royal Mail representatives also came along to Westminster to view the quilts.”

During the exhibition, the couple met with Keighley MP Robbie Moore.

Mr Moore says: “It was an absolute privilege to meet with Anna and Roger in Westminster and to see the Speak Their Name quilts displayed. Each of the squares on these quilts, representing a life lost far too soon to suicide, was lovingly made by family and friends.

“It was incredible to see how two amazing individuals from our area are leading national conversation and change.

“To me, the project shows how families who have lost a loved one to suicide have turned their own grief into hope.

“A huge ‘thank you’ goes to Anna, Roger and the whole team for their hard work.”