On 6th March we were delighted to welcome Lady Lansdowne, High Sheriff of Wiltshire and Marchioness of Bowood, to Malmesbury.
As part of Malmesbury Town Council’s celebrations last year for her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we arranged to plant seven trees around the town to to commemorate each decade of her long reign. The High Sheriff was unable to dedicate the tree at that time and so kindly came along to Cuckingstool Mead, to perform the ceremony on Monday. The tree is a Great White Cherry and is planted in the vicinity of the Jubilee Beacon, which was built especially for last year’s Beacon Lighting across the United Kingdom.
In attendance at the dedication were the Mayor of Malmesbury Councillor Kim Power, Wiltshire Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Malmesbury Councillor Gavin Grant and other Town Councillors, Rev.Oliver Ross of Malmesbury Abbey and members of the public. Children from local primary schools were also invited.
Quote from Mayor of Malmesbury:
“We were honoured to receive a visit from the High Sheriff of Wiltshire to dedicate this special Cherry tree. The tree, planted to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee, is a lasting reminder of her late Majesty’s long service and example to us. We were delighted to see local children attend too, especially on such a cold and windy day. Our hope is that in years to come, when they pass by and look at the tree, they will remember this day, and the service to our nation that is represented by the tree.”
Photographs by Richard Harris.