I was privileged to be invited to the opening ceremony of the Muslim Burial Ground Peace Garden on Horsell Common today.
Here’s a few shots of the day:
Arrival.
Before the event.
If you remember, this is what the place looked like when I first photographed it a few years ago.
A quick peek around the back…
…before the main event.
Two very important gentlemen.
H.R.H. whips it off.
The star of the show. Hello Sophena.
Good job Zafar. Good job indeed. Even if you didn’t give me a namecheck in your speech.
Departure.
Thanks Di.
Thrilled to bits. Thank you. At last to have the 27 men buried in the original Muslim Military Cemetery now acknowledged and honoured as they should be. It removes the pain caused when the original graves were vandalised. I particular appreciate the thought and care that went into the design of the Peace Garden and the fact that 27 trees have been planted around the centre water feature as an additional tribute.
Sophena
Oh, such a pleasure to meet you the other day. I didn’t realise about the trees! A lovely touch. And don’t you love the photo Di took of you and I as we first met?
Yes, a pleasure to put a face to an enigmatic name! I’ve been sending the link to this webpage around to friends here and in Zambia. I can tell you it is well appreciated.
Thanks for spreading the word, so to speak. That’s lovely to hear.
In case anyone’s interested, there is a documentary about this on BBC1 at 1.15pm tomorrow, Sunday 3 January 🙂
Thank you Epsomgirl. I was aware, I even have a note to remind me. And yet…
…I’d forgotten! Thanks for the reminder! Funnily enough, I was nearly in Epsom this afternoon, shopping expedition you understand, but I managed to get out of it. Years of experience.
And very interesting it was too!
I was born and went to school in Epsom but moved away a long time ago. It’s not like it used to be …