Deputy Lieutenant plants our Jubilee tree

Published on 23 May 2022 10:21 AM

Thank you Deputy Lieutenant for planting our little Jubilee tree.

The flowering cherry will form part of the Queen's Green Canopy in Northampton

As a local, independent charity we were delighted to welcome John Griffiths-Elsden, the Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, to plant a Jubilee tree at our day centre in the heart of Northampton. It may be late in the tree-planting season but we are determined to join in the Queen's Green Canopy initiative and play a small part in helping to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation. Every tree planted this year will benefit future generations by enhancing the environment.

We chose to plant a little flowering cherry on Friday 20th May at our William and Patricia Venton Centre in York Road in Northampton during Dementia Action Week. We hope the tree will flourish in the urban setting, alongside the cherry that was planted 25 years ago when the building was built. It is particularly fitting that the Deputy Lieutenant is one of the Queen's representatives in Northamptonshire, as our building was officially opened by The Queen Mother in November 1998. Most of our clients, especially people who come to the day centre, have grown up with the Queen and will have memories of the many notable events in her life.

We are glad that our clients will know that Age UK Northamptonshire has "Planted a tree for the Jubilee" and they will have the opportunity to see it grow and change over the seasons. More than a million trees have been planted since May 2021 and our tree will be added to the QGC map when it re-opens in October 2022.

Guests included the Mayor and Mayoress of Northampton.

Our CEO Chris Duff [far right] was also pleased to welcome the Mayor of Northampton Cllr Dennis Meredith, Mayoress Rona Meredith, Deputy Lieutenant Neelam Aggarwal-Singh, as well as John Griffiths-Elsden DL to our tree planting ceremony.

Rachel White with Paul Bertin.

Thank you to Rachel White from North Northamptonshire Council, seen here with our Chairman Paul Bertin, who showed her support on Friday 20th May.

Amey Carrington baked the magnificent Jubilee cake.

A special occasion calls for a special cake. This magnificent Jubilee cake was baked by Amey Carrington from our team providing support at KGH and NGH.

The rain held off most of the time.

Age UK Northamptonshire's staff were joined by trustee Diana Murkin, Nina Wilson of Wilson Browne Solicitors and Clara Goodman, granddaughter of our late President Anne Goodman among others. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Northampton, we appreciate your support.