Hinchingbrooke Hospital is holding its annual service of remembrance for relatives and friends to remember loved ones who have died at the hospital.

The Time to Remember service, which has been organised by the hospital’s critical care team and the chaplaincy, is on February 18, in the chapel, and starts at 2pm, There will be a short service, conducted by the Rev Julia Chamberlin, and hospital staff and volunteers will deliver readings, and then visitors will be invited to release a balloon outside the hospital to remember a loved one. Refreshments, which have been provided by the Tesco Community Space Team in St Neots, will then be served.

Hinchingbrooke’s lead chaplain, the Rev Julia Chamberlin, said: “This is a special service which aims to provide a space for people to remember a loved one, and we hope it becomes part of the healing process for them. There will, of course, be some tears, but we hope people will be able to take some strength from being with other people who have suffered loss and remember happier times as well.”

The service is for people of all faiths and those of no faith and friends and family members are also welcome to attend.

Candles will be lit in memory of those who have passed away and their names will be read out during the service.

The Rev Chamberlin joined the hospital’s chaplaincy team in September last year.

Julia trained for ordination at St Mellitus College in London and was minister for Little Thetford, near Ely. Before that she worked as a children’s and families advisor and taught in primary schools in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.