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Two mothers who lost their sons to suicide reunited unexpectedly through their mental health campaigning after not being in touch for years.

Beverley Kingsley and Dawn Thorpe reunited after years apart through their support for Hartlepool Mail’s mental health campaign Keep Talking.

The friends had worked together as teenagers at the former RAFA club, in Stockton Road, but lost touch over the years.

However, a photoshoot for the Keep Talking campaign at the start of the summer brought them together.

Dawn (left) and Beverley (middle) with Kristina.

The campaign aims to encourage people to speak up about their mental health while also highlighting the work of people and organisations in the town providing mental health support.

Dawn’s son, Danny Thorpe, took his own life aged just 31 in 2020.

Beverley also lost her son Daniel Walker at the age of 32 in 2022.

The dad-of-two had managed to get off cocaine and appeared to have turned a corner shortly before he died.

Our Keep Talking campaign logo.

"It’s awful that we came together under these circumstances again,” Beverley said.

"Both of our sons were called Daniel and were only a year apart in age.

"I’ve worked with Dawn when we were teenagers. We’ve known each other for years.

Dad-of-two Daniel Walker sadly took his own life in 2022.

"All this time I knew of her son and I didn’t realise it was Dawn because it was different surname.

"It was so surreal meeting up with her family under those circumstances.”

The pair chatted “for ages” and their conversation helped Beverley come up with a name for the mental health awareness group she is building in memory of her son.

"I do want to go forward with his legacy being a voice for mental health and good wellbeing,” Beverley said.

She continued: "I was chatting to Dawn and her daughter Kristina and Kristina said ‘why don’t you call it Daniel’s voice?’.”

Beverley took up Kristina’s suggestion and has been building Daniel’s Voice Facebook page while planning a fundraising event in memory of Daniel next June.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the North East has the highest suicide rate in England and Wales.

In Hartlepool, 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people are attributed to suicide.

This is more than a third higher than the England average of 10.5 deaths per 100,000 people.

Friends reunite after backing Hartlepool Mail’s Keep Talking campaign