THE P RTAL
August 2018 Page 22
The National Memorial Arboretum
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit a special place
More or less in the centre of the country is the National Memorial Arboretum . It is the brain-child of one Commander David Childs RN . He had the bright idea of an arboretum to commemorate those who have served .
Following a meeting with Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC , an appeal was launched in 1994 by the then Prime Minister , John Major . David Childs wanted a memorial near the centre of the country so that not everything would be centred on London . It so happened that Redland Aggregates , now Tarmac , had a quarry that was out-worked near a village called Alrewas in Staffordshire , not far from Lichfield .
The name Alrewas is derived from the Old English Alor-wæsse , meaning “ alluvial land growing with alder trees ”. Redlands agreed to let the Charity that Commander Childs had set up have a nine hundred and ninety nine year lease on the ground for the purpose at the rent of £ 1 per year !
People came . The future of the project became assured when three proposals were agreed . These were : for the site to be the location of the Armed Forces Memorial , for the Ministry of Defence to pay a significant grantin-aid to allow for free entry and that The Royal British Legion would accept the gift of the site as the focus for the Nation ’ s year-round Remembrance .
The project began with no money , no land , no staff and no trees . The National Lottery , in the form of the Millennium Commission , granted some forty per cent of the funds needed and this was matched by thousands of donations , both large and small , from a wide variety of organisations both military and civilian , men and women , corporate and voluntary .
This is not a cemetery . It is a place with 30,000 trees where people may come – free of charge – and walk , or ride , in a peaceful atmosphere . The site covers 150 acres . For some it ’ s a wonderful place to stroll and enjoy the trees ; for others it ’ s a peaceful and beautiful place to remember loved ones , particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country .
The Arboretum was officially opened to the public in May 2001 . Although entrance is free , there is a small
charge for car parking . There is a splendid Reception building , a restaurant / café and a shop . Because the site is so large , for £ 5 you may hire a buggy to get you about . At present a new Events building is taking shape , to be opened in the autumn . It will allow large groups to have meetings and , after their Remembrance event , a cup of tea and some buns , or even a full-scale meal .
David Childs was in Arlington Cemetery in the USA , where there is a famous arboretum , and thought “ what a good idea !” So , the National Memorial Arboretum was born . It is also in the bounds of the National Forest , so there is no problem with planting trees ! At the beginning people from the National Forest gave advice and even saplings . The trees have done so well since planting that some now need thinning out .
In 2007 the place was really put on the map with the opening of the Armed Forces Memorial . It contains over 16,000 names , starting with people from 1945 with those who died in Palestine , right up to the present day . Six names were added for 2017 . Lord Mountbatten and Lee Rigby are among the people remembered here .
We drove up to the front gate , to receive a very warm welcome from the two men on duty . They directed us to the Reception building . Here we were introduced to our guide for the day , Chris . He took us to our buggy , and we set off . Chris told us that although visitors did tend to be of mature years they also had many younger people , and families with children , hence the play area .
As we drove round the site we passed many areas dedicated to particular organisations and causes . It is very impressive . These organisations are far too many to name here , but we pick out just a few . The first area we came to was the Royal Artillery Garden , with some cleverly designed seats , reminiscent of a gun carriage .
Other places are for , perhaps , less well known bodies , such as the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen ’ s