'Being able to stay in hospital with our son meant everything'

A couple says being able to stay in hospital with their premature baby son before he died "meant everything" to them. Sixteen months on from Alfred's death, a concert will be held in his memory to raise funds to help families going through similar circumstances.

Baby Alfred, who weighed 1lb 12oz (0.79kg) at birth, spent 144 days receiving neonatal care at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

His parents Louise Gee and Ben Clay were able to stay in one of two family rooms on the ward, allowing them to remain together as a family before he died on 29 May 2025.

The charity concert on Saturday is raising funds for additional bedrooms for families to stay close to their babies during their time on the neonatal unit.

"I can hardly put into words how important it is," Louise says.

"For us, being able to stay in hospital with our son meant everything.

"It meant that we could be there through the night for him.

"We never had that guilt feeling of leaving him and going home."

Alfred was "an adorable little boy" and "full of energy", says Louise.

"When he was first born he was so tiny, but he grew into such a big boy with really chubby cheeks.

"He had the nurses running round after him, he had them wrapped round his little finger. He was perfect."

Following Alfred's death, Louise says she focused all of her energy into fundraising while in the depths of grief.

A concert remembering her son was suggested to her by a friend, with Bradford Hospitals Charity getting on board.

The British Police Symphony Orchestra will perform at Bradford Grammar School's Price Hall, with all ticket sales going to fund the Home from Home Appeal.

The overall project aims to raise £3.4m to build five new en-suite rooms for parents, a family room, dining area and a laundry facility.

Plans for outside include a terrace with seating and an informal play space.

Laura Riach, director of Bradford Hospitals Charity, says: "Louise and Ben are truly inspiring, and their experience demonstrates exactly why the Home from Home Appeal matters so much.

"Those precious moments with babies are so critically important, and to be within what we call 'dressing gown distance' of your baby at a time that it matters most.

"We are incredibly grateful to Louise and Ben, the British Police Symphony Orchestra and everyone who supports this event."

The concert will feature music from family films including Star Wars and Aladdin.

It will be performed by musicians from across the UK, including serving and retired police officers, police staff and members of the wider police family.

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