Memorial garden planned for infected blood victims

The sister of a man who died as a result of the infected blood scandal is fundraising so she can design a memorial garden to honour him and other victims.

Simon Cummings was a haemophiliac and died in 1996 aged 38 after contracting HIV from a contaminated batch of blood clotting treatment Factor VIII.

His sister, garden designer Amanda Patton, from West Sussex, hopes to create the memorial for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show next year.

Gary Webster, who was infected with HIV and hepatitis as a child at his Hampshire school, said the garden would "keep this tragedy fresh in everyone’s minds".

Ms Patton said creating a "beautiful and meaningful garden" at Chelsea would "inspire empathy and bring this important chapter of NHS history into the public arena”.

Mr Cummings, who worked as a radio presenter at County Sound in Guildford, Surrey, was first prescribed Factor VIII in the late 1970s.

His sister remembers how it improved the quality of his life but he and thousands of others had no idea entire batches were contaminated with viruses such as HIV.

Ms Patton, who lives near Pulborough in West Sussex, said his death had left a deep sadness.

"It’s not an exaggeration to say I feel his loss all the time," she said. "He is not here and he should be."

The garden has been designed to use planting, sculpture and water features to express the emotions experienced by those affected by the infected blood scandal, which has claimed the lives of about 2,900 people.

A centre piece will be a pavilion made of glass panels, engraved with the first names of victims.

Ms Patton said: “I think the sheer scale of that will help to bring home the enormity of this disaster.”

At least 72 pupils died after being treated for haemophilia at Treloar's College near Alton, Hampshire, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr Webster, from Bishopstoke, was a pupil there and became infected with HIV and hepatitis.

He said: "The garden is important. It will keep this tragedy fresh in everyone’s minds.

"One person every four days is still dying from this. I think it could be a great place for many people to get some solace."

Fundraising is under way, with a target of raising £350,000 by the end of September.

Mr Cummings’ widow has already donated £100,000 towards the project.

If "Simon's Garden" goes ahead, following the Chelsea Flower Show, elements of it will be relocated to the grounds of St Botolph-without Bishopsgate church, in London, to create a permanent memorial.

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, external, X (Twitter), external, or Instagram, external.