Veterans honoured at garden opening
ARMED forces veterans were the guests of honour as a First World War memorial garden was opened.
The display has been created next to the Gracie Fields Statue outside the town hall to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War.
It includes stones with remembrance poems engraved on them, soldier silhouettes, symbolic plants, like poppies, and specially designed seating areas which feature the same pattern as the Minton entrance hall floor tiles in the town hall.
The garden, which was put together by Rochdale in Bloom and Rochdale council, was the centrepiece of Rochdale’s entry into the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Rochdale In Bloom North West competition on Tuesday 3 July and will be a key feature for Rochdale’s first national In Bloom August.
It is due to stay until Armistice Day this November.
Coun Neil Emmott, cabinet member for environment, said: “We’ve invited a number of veterans to the display today for an unofficial opening with Mayor Mohammed Zaman.
“We wanted to acknowledge the contribution and enormous sacrifices that Rochdale soldiers made to the war effort in 1914 and subsequently. The contest this ●●Armed forces veterans were among those who attended the opening of the First World War memorial garden in Rochdale town centre pop up installation is perfect to engage the whole of Rochdale and remember those heroes of the past. I hope that it will be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.”
Paul Ellison, from Rochdale In Bloom, said: “We really wanted the installation to be interactive and engaging so that people who visit can contribute to it. A picture frame faces towards the cenotaph in Rochdale Memorial Gardens and includes space for local residents to leave their own poppy contribution to the display on the surrounding. There’s been overwhelming local support for the project and we can’t thank Marshalls enough for sponsoring it.”
Wing Commander David Forbes, the president of Rochdale’s branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “Rochdale In Bloom have produced a super memorial to our fallen which fits in very well with the Town Hall and Memorial Gardens.”
A smaller version of the feature will be showcased at this year’s Royal Horticultural Society’s flower show in Tatton Park, which will be open to the public from Thursday, July 19, to Sunday, July 22.