About us

The Infected Blood Memorial Committee has been established to secure a consensus from the Infected Blood Community on the most fitting way to recognise and remember what happened to people. Our work is focused on making final recommendations for a permanent UK-wide memorial and for the establishment of memorials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Infected Blood Memorial Committee has been established following the recommendations of Sir Brian Langstaff in the Infected Blood Inquiry Report in May 2024.

Recommendation 2 is “Recognising and remembering what happened to people”.

Recommendation 2 reads:

2a.  A permanent memorial be established in the UK and consideration be given to memorials in each of Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The nature of the memorial(s), their design and location should be determined by a memorial committee consisting of people infected and affected and representatives of the governments. It should be funded by the UK government.

2b.  A memorial be established at public expense, dedicated specifically to the children infected at Treloar’s School. The memorial should be such as is agreed with those who were pupils at Treloar’s.

2c.  There should be at least three events, approximately six months apart, drawing together those infected and affected, the nature and timing of which should be determined by a working party as described above, facilitated by some central funding.

This recommendation is accepted in full by the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. This recommendation is being taken forward on a UK wide basis.

Who we are

The Committee’s membership is composed of individuals with direct lived experience, ensuring representation from a broad and balanced range of perspectives across the infected blood community. Membership reflects all routes of transmission with a  geographical spread across the four nations of the UK.

Committee Members

The Committee members have been appointed following an open recruitment process, and interviews conducted by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

  • Clive Smith – Chair
  • Joan Edgington – Vice-Chair
  • Bessie Woodhouse
  • Clair Walton
  • Gordon Dixon
  • John Dearden
  • Neil Lewis
  • Nicola Leahey
  • Nigel Hamilton
  • Tom Koukoulis
  • William Wright OBE

Advisory Members

Representatives from the UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive sit on the Committee in an advisory capacity.

Key Responsibilities

The Committee’s primary duties include:

  • Providing recommendations for a permanent UK-wide memorial, including design and location.
  • Giving consideration to and/or support the establishment of memorials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Developing and leading the delivery of proposals for commemorative events.
  • Engaging with the Devolved Governments and stakeholders to ensure views and ideas are captured and activity is coordinated.
  • Ensuring that the contents of the committee’s discussions are fed back to all those involved in the separately led Treloar’s Committee.

Contact us

If you wish to ask a question about the Committee, please email the Memorial Secretariat at ibmemorialisation@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

We aim to respond to correspondence within 20 working days when a response is required. However, it may take longer to respond in busier periods.

Alternatively, you can write to the Committee at:

Correspondence Team
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2AS
United Kingdom

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