The City of Leeds has been honoured with a special reminder of the Queen’s legacy. The rowan sapling stood outside Buckingham Palace as part of the Tree of Trees sculpture to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee this year. It has now found a place in the peaceful gardens of the Sue Ryder Hospice in Headingley.
The Rowan sapling, which formed part of the magnificent ‘Tree of Trees’ Sculpture which stood outside Buckingham Palace in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer, was planted during a special ceremony in the peaceful gardens of the Headingley-based Sue Ryder Hospice earlier this week.
Ed Anderson CBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, who chose the Hospice for the tree’s home: “We’re really proud that Leeds has received this very special gift of a ‘Tree of Trees’ and we’re delighted to donate the tree to Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, which is such a vital local organisation providing specialist care and support to the Leeds community. It is even more poignant to plant the tree here to symbolise the connection the charity had with the Queen through her Royal Patronage.”
Alex Sobel, MP for Leeds North West in which Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice is based: “I’m really proud to see that Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice was chosen to receive a tree in memory of their Royal Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, by the Lord-Lieutenant. The planting of this tree marks the outstanding contribution Sue Ryder makes to our constituency, and for years to come patients, visitors and staff will now be able to enjoy it.”
Vice Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Helen Thomson, had the honour of planting the tree, with Sue Ryder volunteers, supporters, staff, NHS partners, local dignitaries and local school children, invited along to enjoy the momentous occasion. Helen: “I look forward to hearing how the sapling takes root here at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Leeds to serve as a permanent reminder of the Queen’s legacy and I hope the tree brings joy to hospice patients, visitors, volunteers and staff alike.”
Paul Musgrave, Service Director at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice: “It is a tremendous honour for our hospice to be recognised with this donation. It brings us great pride. It has been wonderful to welcome the Vice Lord-Lieutenant to meet some of our valued volunteers, supporters, staff, NHS partners and local school children to witness the planting ceremony today. As the sapling grows I know it will stand tall as a reminder to all of the amazing legacy of the Queen and the support she gave our charity during her 43-year Royal Patronage.”
Connie, a pupil from local school Shire Oak Primary School, was proud to be among the guests at the Sue Ryder ceremony. She shared, “It felt very exciting to be invited to such an important event. We felt very important meeting the Mayor, the Vice Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff; everyone was very nice to us! I loved seeing the special tree and would like to know what species it is.”
Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice provides expert palliative care to people living with a life-limiting condition across Leeds, supporting their loved ones and family, too.
For more information on the hospice’s services and the way you can support the charity visit www.sueryder.org/wheatfields
Photograph: (L-R) Connie and Olive from Shire Oak C of E (VA) Primary School; the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire Susan Baker; the Vice Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Helen Thomson; Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice Service Director Paul Musgrave; Lord Mayor of Leeds Councillor Bob Gettings; and Bethan and Ollo from Shire Oak C of E (VA) Primary School.
