Queen’s Park Community Organisation (QPCO) invited 150 members of its community to help plant the ‘Tree of Trees’ as part of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Queen’s Green Canopy UK-wide tree planting initiative.
The Queen’s Green Canopy was a unique nationwide tree-planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
A field maple, the only UK native maple, was one of the 350 ceremonial trees from the ‘Tree of Trees’ living sculpture outside Buckingham Palace during the Queen’s Jubilee.
Over 150 people from different faiths, backgrounds and communities gathered in Queen’s Park on Saturday 28 January 2023 to remember Queen Elizabeth II.
Rt Revd. Richard Atkinson opened the ceremony followed by words by the Lord Lieutenant, the Mayor of Bedford, Mohammed Yasin MP, Cllr Nawaz and representatives from different faith communities including Pastor Chackochen from the Christian community, Nacer Amraoui representing the Muslim community, Tirath Bhavra from the Sikh community, Doctor Soni on behalf of the Hindu community and Joe Mankowitz representing Bedford’s Jewish community.
His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Susan Lousada said: “It was an honour to join Queen’s Park Community Organisation at their recent tree planting ceremony.
“It was wonderful to see the community come together to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and very special that this group were gifted one of the special Platinum Jubilee Tree of Trees in recognition of the group’s contribution to the community. Congratulations to everyone involved”
Eric Masih, Chair of Trustee of QPCO said: ‘We were delighted to see so many representatives of different faiths backgrounds, partners organisations and friends joining us to celebrate this unique moment.
“Thank you To All Saint church and Father Paul for giving this tree a home and opening the church door to celebrate together.”
The event was also the perfect opportunity to celebrate the work of a pillar of the Queen’s Park community, Roma Cox.
Roma is a devoted Christian who worked as a primary teacher in Bedford and volunteered at the Queen’s Park Community centre until she suffered a heart attack in December.
“I had a massive heart attack just before Christmas and was revived from the dead,” said Roma.
During the tree planting event, she shared a quote from John Hull that she said has inspired her throughout her life. “I am not holy and perhaps in yourself you are not wonderfully holy but the ground between us is holy. The boundary which separates us shall become holy ground, the common ground. This mutuality of response and responsibility which makes us truly human holiness is discovered through encounter”.
Marie-Ange Comerford-Raillon, Director of QPCO said: “The highlight for me was recognising Roma Cox for her fabulous work. We call her the ‘Queen of Queen’s Park’.
“We were all worried when Roma went to hospital before Christmas but pleased she is on the mend. It is important to recognise the heroes of our communities.”
