THE crowds turned out in their hundreds for the March for Callum this morning (Saturday, April 29).
Mums, dads, children in pushchairs and walking, grandmas and grandfathers, all gathered together to remember a little boy who tragically lost his life and to highlight the cuts made to health services here in Redditch.
Some 200 people gathered at Trinity High School, slowly amassing from 10.30am onwards before setting off on their silent march along Grove Street and up Alcester Street to Church Green.
A discreet police presence ensured roads were closed as the solemn crowd stepped out led by Callum’s family, his mum and dad Stacey and Aidy, his twin Aidan, sister Makayla and little brother Laighton.
Callum was a devoted Chelsea fan and they all wore the blue of the Premiership topping team in his honour.
The march, organised by OurNHS Worcestershire, had been the idea of Callum’s family as a tribute to their little boy who died in circumstances which are still being investigated by the local health trust, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
The eight year old had been sent to Worcestershire Royal by his doctor on Thursday, March 2, but was sent home that evening.
The following day, he fell seriously ill and despite living less than three minutes away from Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital, under a new protocol introduced by health chiefs, he was taken 19 miles away back to Worcestershire Royal along the roadworks-filled M5 motorway.
Callum dad, Aidy Cartlidge said: “We as a family simply have not come to terms with the loss of Callum. To me he hasn’t gone, he’s just sleeping and hasn’t woken up.
“I’m just really glad that everyone has come together for us – it means a lot to us as a family and for our friends.”
On Church Green the bandstand had been transformed into an area of peace and for reflection.
It featured a giant heart made by pupils from Matchborough First School, Callum’s school and the bandstand was decorated with the hearts carrying the thoughts and feelings of his friends.
Sharon Harvey of OurNHSWorcestershire, who led the march with Callum’s family, said: “First and foremost we are here to remember Callum but also to highlight the services that have been cut in our town, the loss of paediatrics and maternity as well as children emergency cover.
“We want to keep our town safe, we are a big town and we need these services back.”
Neal Stote, former chairman of the now disbanded Save the Alex campaign and now a leading figure in OurNHS Worcestershire had pulled the entire march together.
He said: “This is not Save the Alex, yet within a week one of the things we were constantly warning of, the death of a child, happened.
“Look at this place – this town is full of children, this march was full of children, and yet our children have to go 19 miles away and the people here want to know why.”
Health services in Redditch hit the headlines this week when a call was made to take down the ‘Say no to cuts at the Alex’ banner outside the town hall, to the anger of the leader of the council, Labour’s Councillor Bill Hartnett.
He as present at the march along with other key Labour councillors and members of Ukip.
