Heanor - Memorial Park
w/e 23 April 2006
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
Driving to and from Heanor, I have often passed these impressive
gates to the Memorial Park but until this week had never before
passed through them. Beyond I had always imagined a small plot
of land and a few flower beds such as could be seen from the
road but I was in for a surprise when I finally did enter the
park. The crest above the gates is inscribed 'Memorial Park 1950'.
I am indebted to Rachel, a friend who recommended a visit to
the park to me when I was talking to her a little while ago.
Rachel used to work in Heanor and told me she spent many of her
lunch breaks enjoying the park. Sadly Rachel is now registered
as being blind and has very poor eyesight but I'm sure even she,
with her limited vision would appreciate the beauty of the blossom
and newly formed leaves on the tree just inside the entrance.
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 Also near
the entrance and seen here looking back towards the blossoming
tree and the gates is the first of the memorials in the park.
It is a simple stone monument and as the plaque on it says, it
was 'Erected by Amber Valley District Council as a tribute to
all military and civilian personnel of the British forces killed
and injured in the service of their country, and to show appreciation
for the bravery of those involved. August 1982.' Unlike many
war memorials this one carries no names of the fallen but an
additional plaque has been added to the bottom of the original
one and states simply 'Falklands Conflict'.
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After the memorial stone come the expected formal flower beds.
This display is a mirror image of similar beds on the other side
of the path although the 'Christmas Tree' is an optional extra
on this side of the path only.
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Just beyond the said 'Christmas Tree' the colourful shrubbery
and grey skies give an autumnal feel to this image but I can
assure you all the images were taken in April. The weather forecast
for the day had been sunny intervals but early rain gave way
to a damp late morning and the air was heavy with moisture. The
sun did not break through until the late afternoon by which time
I was back at home.
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All the paths in the park seem to lead to the main memorial which
honours 'The men of the Heanor Urban District who fell in the
Great War 1939 - 1945.' I always thought that the term 'Great
War' referred to the First World War of 1914 - 1918 but this
memorial lists the names of local people from Heanor, Loscoe
and Aldercar who died during World War Two.
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I had already been surprised by how far the park stretched from
the road and I was in for another surprise when it went even
further with the ground dipping into a hollow to reveal a small
pond. A path continued beyond the pond but lunch was calling
so I decided to leave further exploration for another day and
hopefully some sunnier conditions when I'm sure the views will
be even more pleasing.
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