Mary Reid

Losing a parent or close friend is tough, but I can't imagine what it must be like for a child. And yet people have all kinds of misconceptions about how children deal with bereavement, from "It's better to let them forget" to "Children don't suffer from depression".

Jacqueline Wilson has explored some of these issues in two of her books: The Cat Mummy and Vicky Angel, so it was great to hear her talk about the subject yesterday. She understands that children do need to find ways to express their grief, anger and bewilderment, and that sometimes they have to revisit it as they pass through different levels of maturity.

Jackie was the guest at Kingston Bereavement Service's launch of their counselling service for bereaved children. This will be a very welcome and much needed specialist addition to the range of counselling and support services offered to children and yong people.

From left: Mo Houlden (Manager of KBS), Jacquline Wilson, me, Joan Bulmer (Chair of KBS) and Lesley Mungar (Saying Goodbye Project Co-ordinator).  Photo by the Council's Press Office.

Our MP Edward Davey himself lost both parents in childhood, and he sent a moving message of support to the gathering as he was unable to attend.

Eighteeen months ago I wrote this about Jackie:

Kingston resident, Jacqueline Wilson, has been made the new Children's Laureate.

Jackie is a bit of a local hero. She is always ready to take part in events around here; anything that encourages children and adults to read.

Did you know that the girls' magazine 'Jackie' was named after her? She started working as a teenager for D C Thomson in Dundee, and they named their new magazine after their youngest employee.

I should have mentioned her trademark silver rings. She can never go out without them now.

When she came into the Parlour she immediately spotted Ethelred. I'm taking him to school next week and will let you know how he gets on.