Pride for park group as duke praises their work

The sterling efforts of volunteers working in Fleetwood's Memorial Park have been given a royal seal of approval.
The Duke of Gloucester (left) meets park group volunteer Les Fletcher.The Duke of Gloucester (left) meets park group volunteer Les Fletcher.
The Duke of Gloucester (left) meets park group volunteer Les Fletcher.

Visiting the Grade II-listed park and its revamped cenotaph last week was the Duke of Gloucester, The Queen’s cousin, who is a member of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for English Heritage.

The Duke heard how the park, designed and built in 1925 by renowned town planner Sir Patrick Abercrombie, is unique in that the entire grounds were created in commemoration of the First World War, unlike most conventional architectural memorials.

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Les Fletcher, chairman of the Friends of the Memorial Park, said: “The Duke chatted to us for about 10 minutes.

“He looked at the cenotaph and heard about the work another volunteers group has done to make profiles of all the men whose names are on it. Then he gave a speech praising everyone’s efforts and asked me about the work we’ve been involved in to get the park improved.

“It was nice to get that kind of recognition during a royal visit.”

The Duke also spoke with Fleetwood’s Coun Terry Rogers, who is Wyre’s Armed Forces Champion.

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The park has recently received a comprehensive restoration thanks to £2.4m funding from the Heritage and Big Lottery Funds, including restoration of the war memorial, entrances, pond, pathways and pavilion.