Veterans' Memorial Garden at St Helens Cemetery to be opened

The veterans of The Saints Community Development Foundation, in partnership with St Helens Borough Council and The Friends of St Helens Cemetery, have announced the opening and dedication of an Armed Forces Memorial Garden in St Helens Cemetery at 11am on Saturday, September 3.

Veterans, their families, and members of the public are all invited.

The newly-announced garden is the culmination of more than three years’ work initially involving a small group of Veterans and volunteers tending to military graves in the cemetery.

Together they placed a poppy at each grave (more than 600) in October each year in time for Remembrance Weekend and removed them again in spring time.

The team often braved the vagaries of the four seasons, whether baked by the sun, drenched by the rain or frozen by the winter cold.

The Memorial Garden itself was designed by members of the partnership and was agreed by St Helens Council’s Bereavement Services.  

The opening ceremony will commence with The Veterans of The Foundation parading their standards.

Once the veterans and standards have formed up on the paths surrounding the garden, The Rev Rachel Shuttleworth, vicar of St Helens Parish Church will conduct a short service of dedication before the memorial is unveiled by Deputy Lieutenant for Merseyside, David Steer QC.

The mayor, other civic dignitaries and distinguished guests will be present.

Visitors are asked to park in Cowley International College’s sixth-form car park and enter the cemetery via the Hard Lane entrance.

Stewards will be on hand to direct everyone to the location of the garden.

Since the partnership has been collaborating, there have been several significant milestones on the journey to Saturday's ceremony.

In October 2019, a parade of veterans and a service of commemoration was held at The Cross of Sacrifice in the Cemetery grounds. 

COVID-19 restrictions limited the partnership’s activities in 2020, but small groups still managed to put poppies on the graves, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices made on our behalf are never forgotten.  

In 2021, the team inspected and tidied every Commonwealth War Graves Commission grave in the cemetery, a total of 325 graves.

This year has seen no letup in the efforts to provide a permanent and appropriate memorial. The Veterans of The Foundation, together with our key partners have been working hard, not only looking after war graves located in the St Helens Cemetery, but also landscaping to ensure that the Memorial Garden looks fantastic.

Going forward, the Memorial Garden will be maintained by veterans of the Foundation.

Many veterans have been laid to rest in the cemetery, since its opening in 1858, including two Victoria Cross holders and a headstone dedication in remembrance of a local World War One Victoria Cross holder remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.

St Helens Cemetery has more than 325 Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves as well as a Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cross of Sacrifice, which honours the dead of the First World War.

The garden has seating to provide a tranquil place for reflection at this beautiful part of the cemetery and everyone is welcome to visit, sit and rest awhile.

Steve Leonard, Saints Community Foundation director, said: “The Memorial Garden is dedicated to all Veterans laid to rest in the cemetery, from our town and around the world. It will also provide a lasting legacy in honour all those who have served their countries.

“Saints Community Development Foundation would like to say a massive thank you to The Veterans of The Foundation, The Friends of The St Helens Cemetery and to St Helens Borough Council who have all dedicated their time and effort into this exciting project and we could not be prouder.”

Cllr Lynn Clarke, St Helens Borough Council’s armed forces champion, said: “We’re immensely proud of our Armed Forces and Veterans communities, The Friends of St Helens Cemetery and the Saints Community Foundation.

"The memorial garden they have created is a beautiful space for reflection and relaxation, and I’m delighted to see the project unveiled to the public for residents and visitors to enjoy.”