Many people, particularly of the younger generation, who use public seating overlooking the Old River Ancholme in Brigg pass by this tree, not far from the County Bridge, without realising its significance due to the passage of time.
It was planted as a sapling in Spring 1988 by Lady Diana, The Princess of Wales, when she made a royal visit to the town to mark the launch of the Brigg Regeneration Project, which saw grants made available to refurbish many properties in the Conservation Area, including a number of retail premises.
The Princess was assisted at the tree-planting ceremony by Coun Violet Lockwood, from Wootton, who was then the Mayor of Glanford.
After Lady Diana's tragic death in August 1997, aged only 36, many Brigg people signed books of condolence organised by North Lincolnshire Council.
The ornamental pear tree she planted 33 years ago has now matured; near its trunk is a flowerbed on which an inscribed tablet gives details.
We've long thought that a picture of the Princess during her visit to Brigg might be placed here to attract the attention of passers by so they stop to read the plaque, look at the tree and reflect on the life of the VIP who planted it.
The Scunthorpe Telegraph took pictures of Lady Diana planting the tree, with images surviving in the local paper's current digital archive.
No comments:
Post a Comment