A seemingly mundane weekly chore has taken on a deeply emotional significance for one family, as brightly coloured teardrop-shaped stickers have begun appearing on wheelie bins across Greater Manchester and the rest of the United Kingdom. These stickers, featuring the dark silhouette of a man at their base, are not just a decorative addition but a poignant tribute to a beloved father of three who tragically took his own life.
A Family's Mission to Break the Silence
Caroline Tiplady and her brother Johnny de Mouilpied are the driving force behind the recent appearance of these stickers. The silhouette is that of their brother, Philip de Mouilpied, a 47-year-old father from Stockport who passed away in October last year. Philip left a note on the kitchen table of his family home just moments before ending his life, an event that left his family utterly bewildered and devastated.
Caroline, 53, described Philip as a "really lovable person" who "never had a bad word to say about anybody." The family grew up in Stockport, where Philip was the second eldest of four children. Tragedy struck early when their mother died of breast cancer when Philip was only nine years old. Caroline believes this experience profoundly affected her brother's mental health throughout his life.
"It really affected his mental health," said Caroline. "I think firstly because there was no bereavement support for children. It was in 1989 when she died, so in those days, it wasn't really spoken about, and it was just brushed under the carpet. Not by family, but just in general. There was no help for anybody, I don't think." At 16, Caroline stepped into a maternal role, helping care for her family while their father worked.
Philip's Struggles and a Turning Point
During his school years, Philip met Lucy, whom he would eventually marry. Together, they welcomed three children: Jessica, 23, Emily, 22, and Callum, 19. Despite the joy of domestic life, Philip endured recurring bouts of deteriorating mental health, compounded by his battles with alcohol dependency. Caroline recalled, "I think he carried a lot of pain and anxiety in silence. We used to say to him, 'Oh, how are you doing? Are you okay?' And he'd be like, 'Oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine.' He always just wanted to please anybody. He didn't want to be a burden to anybody at all."
Over the years, there were multiple instances when Philip attempted to take his own life. There were also calmer stretches of abstinence following periods in rehabilitation, but he would inevitably slip back into drinking. In December 2015, Caroline delivered an ultimatum: quit drinking or face losing his family. The message struck a chord, and Philip remained sober for the following nine years.
Despite giving up alcohol, Philip continued to live with anxiety, only venturing to locations where he felt at ease, such as his siblings' homes. So it proved unexpected last August when Philip turned up at a family wedding in Northern Ireland. "He was on great form," said Caroline. "But now, looking back at the pictures that were taken of him with my son and my other son and other family members – I think it was his way of saying bye to everybody. He knew as a family we would all be there together and that would be his last time of seeing us all together." Just two months later, Philip took his own life.
The Birth of the Bin Silence Foundation
Several months after Philip's funeral, Caroline and Johnny chose to establish a foundation in their brother's honour. Having engaged with numerous charities over the years, they devised the concept of converting household bins into "micro-billboards" for sharing a positive message. They founded the Bin Silence Foundation to raise funds for mental health charities. The stickers not only generate vital funds but also act as a prompt for neighbours and friends to look out for one another.
The sticker's design, featuring the outlined figure of Philip, "represents everyone who has felt empty, lost, or alone," Caroline said. She added, "We thought it was a great way of getting people to talk and binning the silence." Shortly after production, the family was overwhelmed with orders, prompting them to launch a website. Their short-term goal is to sell 100,000 stickers, raising a million pounds for nominated charities.
National Reach and a Beacon of Hope
To date, stickers have been purchased by people from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands, spanning the length and breadth of the UK. Despite their devastating loss, Caroline regards the Bin Silence Foundation as a "beacon of hope" and believes Philip would be proud of its positive impact. "We're not people to sit around and mope and not do anything," she said. "We're a family who just gets on with things. That's not to say we're not saying we're not grieving him, we'll grieve him forever. But we feel like something good has come out of our grief."
Beyond fundraising, the stickers serve as a conversation starter, ensuring people don't remain "fighting the same invisible battles" in silence, as her brother tragically did. Caroline added, "You wouldn't have ever known meeting Philip that he had problems. And there must be so many people masking what they're going through."
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person, or go to the Samaritans website.
