The Parish Council is looking to create a memorial for children in Alderley Edge Cemetery to commemorate the Queen's Jubilee.
Money was set aside in 2012 as the Parish Council was considering commissioning some form of permanent Diamond Jubilee art work, but this never happened so Cllr Melanie Connor requested that the Council "reinstates £5000 from the Jubilee for the memorial garden" which is currently being built in the cemetery by Orbitas (who manage bereavement services).
Cllr Connor explained "What we want to have is plant a tree and have some sort of memorial for children, a Peter Pan type thing, something that centres the place so it's not just the stones with the memorials on."
Cllr Sue Joseph added "One of the ones we have seen is circular stones going round a tree and benches and two stone figures, a boy and a girl sitting on one of the benches, and the other two benches for people to sit and think and contemplate. The stones are with children's names on as a memorial.
"There are other models, we are not fixed on the idea of one particular one but this is the basic idea. So it is peaceful, quiet, tranquil. A suitable place for children's remains to be put."
Cllr Duncan Herald commented "I think the fact that we didn't do anything to commemorate the Jubilee is something we are not prepared to be proud about, we missed a chance there. Having said that to put the money into making a memorial garden to commemorate the Jubilee I think its something we could be proud of."
The idea is that different options will be brought back to the Council for consideration.
Cllr Mary Maczkowiak raised concerns about the general state of the cemetery, especially the grave stones which fell over years ago. However, her fellow councillors explained that the money Orbitas has is for a memorial garden and there is no option to use it for anything else.
Mary Maczkowiak said "It sounds absolutely lovely and I agree with doing something like this for the village but I think you have to upgrade the cemetery, the cemetery is a disgrace for our village."
Melanie Connor responded "We are not saying we are ignoring the cemetery. Orbitas came to us and said we are going to build a memorial garden in the cemetery, not we're going to put all your stones up because that's not their game."
She added "We are not putting money into the creation of the memorial garden, that is Orbitas and Cheshire East. What we want to do is put something commemorative in the children's area. We are not doing it, we are adding something to it to commemorate the Queen."
Cllr Matthew Lloyd commented "My view is if we actually do the memorial garden there's more chance then that people will make the effort to get the cemetery straight and to do the house."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
There is some 'stuff' about the plans on the P.C. website.
Both 'Orbitas' and a committee of the Parish Council have together been making improvements to the cemetery for a year or more now.
Perhaps those who regularly visit the cemetery would tell the rest of us what they think about what has been happening?
I think that the cemetery has been greatly improved over the past year or so and generally is well maintained. At this time of year it does look a little untidy but that is more a feature of nature than anything else. It should also be remembered that a lot of those who tend family graves are elderley and perhaps more "inactive" during the cold winter months.
For my two-penneth worth I have some misgivings about a memorial specifically for children. The loss of any loved one is a "personal" matter and people will choose their own time and place to grieve, to remember and to pay respect. I like the idea of a memorial garden as a quiet, floral place where anyone can sit and ponder the memory of a loved one.
Perhaps just a mis-understanding over words? As in the meaning of 'specifically'?
The memorial garden is for all ages; there will not, as I understand it, be any seperate childrens' only garden. Simply that one part of the memorial garden will be for children; probably one end of the entire place.
I understand that this was decided after conversations with people; though I wasn't a party to that as such.
If you visit the Parish Council's website, there are some photos of the proposed 'furniture'.
Partly what is there will depend on finances. CEC are supporting the idea and the Parish Council is also to put some finance up. Any generous donors out there will be welcomed with open arms.