The HoH Memorial Wall

I lost my dad 5 years ago, who was like my best friend, and I was an obsessive daddy’s girl for sure. His words to me an hour before he died were that I had to step up and look after Mum for him – be her best friend and her go-to when she needed it. I did just that. I immensely enjoyed a newfound mother-and-daughter relationship that I had not experienced before. We spoke every day, she did craft fairs with me, helped with the preparation of my wedding and so much more.

Mum and I went to Australia for 6 weeks against the advice of her consultant, who had taken biopsies a few days before we left. When we got back, within two days we were sitting with an oncologist who told us it was terminal and we didn’t have long. Mum died in March. As my brother lives in Australia, he wanted to take part of Mum and Dad’s ashes back with him, so we had them mixed together – a wish of my dad and later my mum.

After Hand on Heart made a beautiful silver heart for my daughter when her baby was born, it seemed fitting to have a memorial item made with Mum and Dad’s ashes too. So my order for four identical blue resin hearts with stunning engraving arrived this week. We are all beyond thrilled. They are aesthetically forever in our hearts as well as literally.

My parents were incredibly supportive grandparents to my two daughters, and their necklaces mean the world, as they had an amazing relationship with them and were so close. The fourth necklace was for my mum and dad’s best friend. Her husband passed away first, and so the four musketeers were reduced to three. Now there is only one, and to try and bring some peace to her very broken heart, I had a blue heart made for her too.

My mum and dad were two incredible people who touched the lives of so many, and both will be forever missed by their daughter, granddaughters and best friend, who will all have comfort from having a piece of them with them all the time.

A massive thank you to Donna at HOH for creating such beautiful pieces.

Ali xx

- Alison Parsons 

My Mum – she was the most incredible woman in the world, so completely selfless and dedicated her entire life to looking after me and others. She battled breast cancer in 2018, had a mastectomy, over six rounds of chemotherapy and endless radiotherapy, but never once gave up. She was a true warrior, always fighting and never allowing anyone to get in her way.

She unfortunately fell ill again in 2022 and was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The illness took her quickly, and I will forever be thankful she didn’t have to suffer. She made me into the strong and loving person that I am today. I owe every single accomplishment I have made in life to her.

She was a single parent, yet I never felt I missed out by not having my dad, as she completely smothered me in love and affection my entire life – never once allowing me to consider I wasn’t good enough for anyone.

The necklace from Hand on Heart allows me to always have my mum with me. It means she will be with me every day – at every Christmas, at my wedding next month and during the birth of my children and her grandchildren. It is both beautiful and sacred to me.

- Becky McAllister

We had two necklaces made in memory of our amazing dad, Jeff Garey, and they are perfect. I don’t have enough words to describe the impact my dad had on our lives, but he was amazing and the best dad anyone could wish for. He was so kind and caring – he would always feed the homeless, donate money to animal rescues and generally help anyone who was in need. Having some of his ashes made into necklaces so we can carry a part of him with us forever means so much to us. Thank you so much for the love and care you took in making our pieces for us. From Natasha and Carla x

- Natasha Newton 

The beautiful necklace and earrings were made in memory of my mum. She was my best friend and always there for me in all of my 55 years – supporting, guiding, protecting and encouraging me. Then, when I became a mother, she not only looked out for me but for my two children too.

- Gill Driver 

I had a ring made in memory of my lovely dog, Nelly, for my daughter Daisy.

- Justine Anderson 

My husband. My hero. He had terminal cancer and was given three to six months to live. There were a lot of ups and downs, including Covid, but he managed eighteen months, worrying only about how I would cope after he was gone. 

- Jane 

My dad he was my hero 🩵

- Katie Roberts 

This piece of jewellery was made in memory of my Mum.

- Anne Neville 

I lost my mum quickly and unexpectedly to cancer in February 2024. She was my best friend and the most important person in my entire life. I was only 24, so I felt like I had no idea how to continue my life without her. I got a necklace made with her ashes, and now I will never feel alone again. It brings me so much comfort knowing that she will be with me (literally) 24/7 for the rest of my life. The piece of jewellery I picked out was something she would have loved to wear herself, so I know that if she could see it, she would love it. I could never thank Hand on Heart Jewellery enough for the gentle care of my beloved mum’s ashes and the beautiful necklace that was created.

- Natasha 

My dad – a very special man, always fair and a great role model.

- Debbie Lowis 

Our jewellery was made in memory of our dad, Geoff. Both my sister and I have some jewellery in his memory. I could say he was the best dad ever and our childhood was glorious. However, like all of us, he was flawed and made mistakes. But what he gave us was life. With that life, he instilled in us a sense of fairness and what was right, how people and family were everything. He gave us stories, music and literature, and opened our eyes to a world we could only imagine. Most of all though, he gave us love – unending, unconditional love without judgement. So, thanks Geoff. You were the best dad ever, and we can never thank you enough for being our dad. Forever your girls, Molly and Ella xxx

- Ella 

Bella – the most beautifully loving and loyal pug.

- Katie O