Commonwealth and Gurkha Garden Project Launch
Our Commonwealth and Gurkha Garden Project Launch took place here at St George's on Friday 2nd July and Saturday 3rd July. This was an opportunity to see plan and CAD images designed by RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner Juliet Sargeant.
The Commonwealth & Gurkha Garden will transform the land around the church to create a space for reflection, education, care for the natural environment, and beauty, with local community involvement and world visitor appeal. The project will now move forward to design review and fund raising with much to do before landscaping and planting begin - watch this space!
On the Friday a very special invitation event was attended by senior representatives of Commonwealth countries and the Gurkha community, leading figures from Industry Commerce and the Charity sector, Deputy Lieutenants, our Military friends from the Royal Artillery barracks and Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkha champion Joanna Lumley, a 95 year old Jamaican veteran soldier, Royal Borough of Greenwich Councillors, Trustees and Supporters of St George's and many others.
After a welcome address from our chair Tim Barnes a play was performed - devised written and performed by Nutkhut Theatre Company, the piece told the story of Second World War VC awardee Umrao Singh, the last named on our mosaic in the Apse. Juliet Sargeant then made a presentation of her design concept, visuals and a CAD animation were seen. The Waldstein Quartet of Greenwich Trinity Laban College played. Food was served prepared by our local Panas restaurant (Indian & Nepalese cuisine) and Christopher's Caterers (West Indian dishes).
A special presentation was made by Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS to HRH Prince Mohsin Ali Khan of Hyderabad in honour of his support of the Panas Helping Hands charity which through the generosity of Panas founders Sujan and Bandana Katuwal has done so much to feed the NHS and other key workers during the Covid Pandemic.
On Saturday the doors were open for members of the public to see Juliet's design concept for this remarkable and exciting project.
In the next year much work will be done to advance the design and to raise funds before landscape and planting can commence.
