National memorial to celebrate organ donors unveiled in Staffordshire

A national memorial paying tribute to people who have donated their organs is to be unveiled.

The memorial, which is dedicated to the tens of thousands of organ and tissue donors across the UK, is to be officially opened by the Duke of Gloucester at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The Gift of Life Memorial is dedicated to those who have "saved andtransformed" the lives of others, NHS Blood and Transplant said.

Among those attending the unveiling ceremony will be organ donors, recipients and the families of donors.The family of donor Keith Buckley, a retired fire officer who died in December, said the memorial was a "fitting tribute".

Mr Buckley, 74, died after suffering a serious head injury after falling off aladder while putting up Christmas lights at his home in Nottingham.

The sculpture is inspired by the logo of the charity behind the memorial, theDonor Family Network. The charity provides support to organ and tissue donor families and promotes organ and tissue donation.

The memorial, a colourful mosaic butterfly on top of a forget-me-not flower on a bronze base which bears the words "Reflection, Recognition, Remembrance", was designed by Birmingham artist Julia Hennessy-Priest.