New Year’s Honours list recognises Abigail’s Footsteps founder

Congratulations to David Ward, founder of the charity Abigail’s Footsteps, who has been awarded an MBE from His Majesty King Charles III in the New Year’s Honours list for his services to bereaved parents of stillborn children, particularly in Kent.

He and his wife Jo founded Abigail’s Footsteps in 2010, in memory of their daughter Abigail Rose Ward who was stillborn at 41 weeks in 2009.

Abigail’s Footsteps is a baby loss charity which provides support and counselling for bereaved parents and families as well as specialist bereavement training for midwives and healthcare professionals.

Our maternity unit has benefited from the charity’s cooling cots, the most recent one being delivered by the couple in December. They offer grieving parents the opportunity to spend extra precious time with their baby before they have to say goodbye, something which would not have been possible without them.

Alison Herron, Director of Midwifery, said: “We are extremely grateful to Abigail’s Footsteps for making it possible for us to have this vital piece of equipment in our maternity bereavement suites. On behalf of everyone at the hospital, I’d like to congratulate David for being awarded an MBE. It is very much deserved.”