Professor Nathan Jeffrey speaking at thanksgiving service

Our Service of Thanksgiving

Every year, a number of generous and public-spirited individuals donate their bodies to the University so we can continue to provide high quality teaching, training and research to students and health professionals.

Every two years we host a Service of Thanksgiving dedicated to those who donated their bodies and in doing so contributed to the benefit of future generations.

We gather at the Victoria Gallery and Museum to remember and honour incredible individuals who generously donated their bodies to medical science. Our Service of Thanksgiving provides a moment of reflection and gratitude for the immense contribution these donors have made to the education and training of future healthcare professionals.

You can watch videos featuring relatives, staff, and students honouring the remarkable contributions of our donors on our Silent Teacher webpage.

Messages of thanks

Family members of those who have decided to donate their body are invited to leave a message of remembrance or thanks to be displayed on our web pages, and during the service of thanksgiving at the VG&M in May.

Messages of thanks

In advance of our service of thanksgiving, we invite people to leave messages of thanks to those who have made the noble decision to leave their bodies to the Human Anatomy Resource Centre. Those messages highlight how the process of body donation afford students and academics invaluable and unique opportunities to develop skills and research that will improve clinical treatment for all.

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.