Platinum Jubilee garden party was a huge success
A PLATINUM Jubilee party held at Llanelli’s Rose Garden was a huge success.
The garden has been a feature of Stradey Park Avenue and New Road since the early 1930s and despite becoming neglected and unused, an effort has been under way for almost a year to restore it to its former glory and to rejuvenate the garden and grounds, making it accessible and welcoming to everyone in the community.
On Sunday, June 5 a party was held to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, with the garden decked out in bunting to mark the historic occasion.
Local people and dignitaries attended including Llanelli Mayor Cllr Philip Warlow, deputy mayor Cllr Nick Pearce and Llanelli MP Nia Griffiths, who was bestowed the title of Dame in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Also attending was Dora Bowen, who will celebrate her 100th birthday in July.
She is a former Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) member and served with the RAF during the Second World War.
She has been a part of many charitable projects through knitting and doesn’t want any gifts or flowers for her birthday; instead she would like people to donate to the Salvation Army as her preferred charity.
Cllr Pearce who has been instrumental in the garden’s redevelopment said: “We started the garden project in August last year and work has been ongoing.
“We held Halloween and Christmas events, which were both successful, and this Jubilee weekend party was also great.
“The rain held off and everyone enjoyed, and we also had musical entertainment.
“It was great to have Dora with us too, who was brought up in Brighton and stationed in Llanelli during the Second World War and met her husband here.”
As well as rejuvenating the garden the project aims to support physical and mental wellbeing, build relationships with local schools for educational opportunities, as well as peer group work and education around gardening and the environment.