FoHC are proud to announce that we have completed the Memorial Garden at the entrance to the cemetery.
The garden has been introduced as a place of solace and to honour the dead with unknown graves. It has been a long time in the planning but has come together this year with help from a Worthing Council Infrastructure Grant, gained by Sue, and ideas and practical help from many of our volunteers.
The garden is surrounded by the north and east wall and a new hurdle fence forms its west border. Ang ordered the fence from English Hurdles and organised its placement. A plaque, commissioned from Peters Signs, naming the garden has been installed above wooden bench which Maggi donated. Peter has added a wire framework to allow the roses to surround the plaque. Philippa chose the planting to give a physic garden ambience. The plants were bought from Culberry Nurseries and later planted by Tracy and Philippa. Honeysuckle will grow in front of the hurdle fence and existing roses have been pruned and will grow against the north and east wall.
The words on the gold band of the plaque are: Serenity Meditation Rest Hope Peace Tranquility Memory Devotion Calmness Remembrance Contemplation Relaxation. These words were from a brain storming session by volunteers and were chosen to offer a thoughtful welcome for visitors when they enter the garden.
The central part of the plaque is a commemoration of the people buried in the cemetery with an unknown grave plot. There are 71 names honoured in the listing, each with a forename, surname, burial year and age.
The stories of the people with an unknown grave have been published on our website by our heritage team. Carol highlighted some of these stories in here recent blog about Clump Square.
Pat Brownbill