Remembering Phil at Christmas

Monday 17th Nov 2025

A Family’s Story of Love, Loss and Light

Christmas has always been a season of laughter, family traditions, and togetherness. Yet for those who have lost someone they love, it can also be a time of quiet reflection, a mixture of warmth and longing. For the Ballard family, Christmas changed forever after losing Phil, a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, whose humour and kindness lit up every room.

When Phil was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Forest Holme Hospice became more than a place of care; it became part of the family. The nurses supported Phil with dignity and compassion, ensuring he could remain at home surrounded by love. They were there not just for him, but for everyone who loved him, sharing in the laughter, the tears, and the countless small moments that mattered most.

After Phil’s passing, his family discovered solace in Light up a Life, Forest Holme’s annual service that brings people together to remember loved ones at Christmas. As candles flicker and music fills the air, the Ballards feel Phil’s presence more deeply than ever.

The service offers something profoundly simple yet powerful, which is a space to pause amid the season’s bustle, to reflect, and to reconnect with the love that endures beyond loss.

For the Ballards, this has become a cherished tradition that celebrates Phil’s life, to share stories, and to find comfort among others who understand. Each glowing light represents a story, a memory, a bond that time cannot break.

As the lights shine this Christmas, the Ballard family will once again raise a glass to Phil, grateful for the laughter he inspired, the love he gave, and the memories that continue to guide them. Light up a Life reminds us that love, once shared, never truly leaves us. It simply changes form but continues to shine on