Trees planted in memory of the Fallen named on Wivenhoe's War Memorial

 

Taylor Wimpey officials with children and others including Phil Long standing to the right of Dan Luxford the RBL standard bearer

Photograph from Taylor Wimpey

 

The children planting trees with parents and grandparents helping

Photograph from Taylor Wimpey

 

RBL Branch President Peter Hill with Rev Erwin Lammens, Rector of St Mary's Church Wivenhoe with the plaque flanked by standard bearers Dan Luxford (left) and Will Wheatley (right)

Photo from Taylor Wimpey

 

The land allocated by Taylor Wimpey for the Memorial trees

 

Rev Erwin Lammens addressing the children and parents before the tree planting got underway

Photograph from Taylor Wimpey

 

Peter Terry (back and centre) and with his grand-daughter Bethany Terry getting ready to plant a tree with a plaque dedicated to Jean Coe who died in WW2

Photograph from Taylor Wimpey

 

The panel on the War Memorial in the Churchyard which lists the names of all the men who died in WW1

Photo by Peter Hill

 

The plaque organised by Phil Long to mark the planting of the trees

Photograph from Taylor Wimpey

 

Wreaths around the War Memorial with members of the Wivenhoe Scouts & Guides present for the roll call of names and wreath laying - November 2022

Photograph by Jeannie Coverley

 

Peter Hill, President Wivenhoe RBL congratulating Phil Long, organiser of the Memorial trees.

Photograph from Taylor Wimpey

On 19^th June 1921, a memorial was unveiled in St Mary’s Churchyard, in tribute to the men of Wivenhoe who fell in the Great War.  Additional names were added to the stone cross after the Second World War, with one last name added in the 1980s. In total there are 55 people whose names are recorded on that cross.

On 11th November 2022, a very different memorial was created to honour these 54 men and one woman of Wivenhoe who lost their lives serving their country.

On this date in 2022, youngsters from Broomgrove Junior School were invited by the organisers, the Up Streeters Residents’ Association, to plant 55 trees on a piece of land generously donated by builders, Taylor Wimpey, just off Elmstead Road in Wivenhoe.  The trees, donated by the Woodland trust, are part of the Green Canopy celebration of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.  In addition to the trees, the children were given plaques stating the name of each soldier or sailor being honoured and the name of the child who planted the tree. Different sorts of trees were given including Silver Birch, Rowans and Wild Cherry and should make a superb memorial to these 55 people.

It is hoped by Phil Long, whose idea it was to create this memorial and who made all of the arrangements, that the children and the trees will grow old together and the stories of the sacrifices, made by these brave people of Wivenhoe, will continue to be remembered.

The trees were planted following a short ceremony led by the Rev Erwin Lammens, Rector of St Mary’s Church, and Peter Hill, President of the Royal British Legion, Wivenhoe Branch and attended by the standard bearers from the Britsh Legion, William Wheatley and Dan Luxford, as well as the Head Teacher from Broomgrove Junior School, other teachers and parents and grandparents of the children. A plaque, made of English Oak, was also dedicated at the occasion.

The Up Streeters Residents’ Association thanked Taylor Wimpey, the East of England CO-OP and Elms Price Estate Agents, who generously sponsored the cost of the plaques.