Beheaded hostage given a memorial

A PERMANENT memorial to murdered hostage Alan Henning was opened in his home town in Greater Manchester yesterday.

The 47-year-old Salford taxi driver, a father-of-two, was beheaded by Islamic State after going to Syria as part of an aid convoy to help orphaned children.

A circular memorial garden at Eccles Recreation ground was opened in a special ceremony.

The Alan Henning Memorial Garden design is based upon a clock face – the 360 degree garden has been created to give the family and the community a place of quiet reflection and is symbolic of time.

It features a circular flower bed, with yellow flowers and plants, wooden sleepers painted yellow and two granite boulders bearing memorial plaques.