Professor Nathan Jeffrey speaking at thanksgiving service

Our Service of Thanksgiving

Each year, generous individuals donate their bodies to the University, enabling high-quality teaching and research for students and healthcare professionals.

Every spring, we host a Service of Thanksgiving to honour these donors who have made such a meaningful contribution to future generations.

We gather at the Victoria Gallery and Museum to remember these remarkable individuals. This service provides a moment for reflection and gratitude, acknowledging the profound impact these donors have made on the education of future healthcare professionals.

You can watch videos featuring family members, staff, and students sharing their thoughts about our donors' extraordinary gifts on our Silent Teacher webpage.

Share your memories and tributes

Before our Service of Thanksgiving, we invite everyone to share messages of appreciation for those who chose to donate their bodies to medical science.

Relatives and friend of of donors share their reflections alongside notes from students and staff. These messages may include memories of their loved ones or thoughts about the donation's impact. Together, they show how body donation provides students and researchers with essential learning opportunities that develop their skills and advance research, ultimately improving healthcare for everyone. Leave a message of your own.

Messages of Reflection and Remembrance

Relatives of donors are welcome to share memories and reflections of the person you knew. Your words will be shared on this dedicated memorial webpage, creating a lasting tribute that connects families, friends, students, and educators in honouring these extraordinary gifts of learning.

Tree of life

Tree of Knowledge

Watch our Tree of Knowledge video, created for the 2024 Service of Thanksgiving. This tribute features our students reflecting on the impact of body donation. The tree imagery, mirrored in our special pin badge, symbolises the enduring legacy of our donors. Discover how this selfless gift supports medical education and research.
Silent Teacher - body donor stories Image of the family of a body donor

Body donor stories

'The Silent Teacher' - Explore a series of short videos where family members, staff and students share stories about the kindness of individuals who have donated their bodies. These videos highlight the profound and far-reaching benefits of body donation.

Make an enquiry bouquet of flowers donated and displayed at thanksgiving service

Make an enquiry about body donation

If you are interested in taking the decision to donate your body after death, you can find out more about the process, and how you can contact the bequeathal team.

Image of book on table for guests to leave messages of thanks

Download all of our messages of thanks

You can download the full list of our latest messages of thanks, submitted for the recent service of thanksgiving.