Ems Valley Gazette Donation boosts work of memorial garden’s friends

Friends of a memorial garden in Emsworth have been given a donation for new flowers, plants and tools.

Staff from Emsworth’s Co-operative Funeralcare branch in North Street visited the memorial garden to make a donation of £200.

Situated on the south-east corner of Emsworth Jubilee Recreation Ground, off Horndean Road, Emsworth’s Memorial Garden was opened in 2006 after a suggestion was made by a well known resident of Emsworth, Harold Groom.

Several members of the community subsequently campaigned for a public war memorial which covered the two world wars and other conflicts.

Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden help to maintain the garden and hold a range of other activities, including regular work sessions to develop the garden.

Volunteers are invited to join the regular maintenance session, which is held on the second Monday of each month from 10am to midday.

Annie Mcknight, funeral co-ordinator at the Emsworth branch, part of Southern Coop, said: “The memorial garden provides a really essential space and is an important part of our community.

“Being part of a regional, independent co-operative, we do our best to support our local community and it is special when we get to support projects like this.

“We hope it will continue to provide a place of calm and reflection for many years to come.”

The purpose of the Emsworth Memorial Garden is to give people of all faiths, or none, a tranquil place for them to reflect in their own way and honour those local heroes who have given their lives in the cause of justice and peace.

It includes a Memorial Roll with the names of 234 Emsworth war dead engraved on plaques and a sculpture of ‘absence’ in its centre.

Maurice Clarke, from Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden, said: “A service for all is held every year in the garden on Armistice Day – November 11 at 11am.

“Everyone is invited to the service, which is attended by local dignitaries, members of the Armed Forces, representatives of the emergency services, together with local schools and members of the public.”

To find out more about the Friends of Emsworth Memorial Garden, visit