Wednesday November 26th 2025
MP Kirsty McNeil and Siobhan Thomas, a member of the Lothian 'Speak Their Name' group, with the memorial quilt
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Speak Their Name, a charity dedicated to supporting families and friends bereaved by suicide, is bringing its powerful Lothian Suicide Memorial Quilt Exhibition to venues across Midlothian.
The exhibition, created by members of the Speak Their Name Lothian group, showcases a hand-crafted memorial quilt made up of squares contributed by families from across the Lothians. Each square represents a loved one lost to suicide, ensuring their lives are honoured and their stories shared.
There are currently 11 Speak Their Name groups across the UK who have collectively produced 19 memorial quilts commemorating more than 800 individuals lost to suicide.
The quilt will be on display across Midlothian at the following venues:
– 24 November – 30 November: Loanhead Parish Church
– 19 January – 31 January: Penicuik Storehouse
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Siobhan Thomas, a member of the Lothian group, shared the impact the project has had on her and her family:
“Being part of the Speak Their Name Quilt project has been an invaluable support to me. In attending the workshops, I was able to find comfort and connection in a community who truly understood the impact of losing a loved one to suicide. While making my square for the quilt I was able to move from struggling with the death of my sister to celebrating her life. Being part of this project has enabled me to have open conversations about mental health support and suicide prevention.”
Kirsty McNeill, Member of Parliament for Midlothian, added: “It was the deepest privilege to visit the Speak Their Name quilt exhibition in Parliament with Siobhan last month. Speaking about the loss of someone you love is unimaginably difficult and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to this beautiful memorial and helped to build such a supportive community.
“I wish every strength to those who are carrying grief into every waking moment.”
If you would like to create a square to remember someone you’ve lost, visit speaktheirname.org
to find out how to get involved.
