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Memorial unveiled in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Walsall Council has unveiled two heartwarming statues to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Walsall Arboretum. The special event, held on Saturday 28 September 2024, was a fitting tribute to the Queen's enduring legacy and her beloved corgi dogs.
Standing tall outside the Arboretum’s visitor centre, the corgi statues were commissioned by Walsall Council and created by local artists Julie Edwards and Ron Thompson of Planet Art. The sculptures are made of cast metal and rest on Cornish granite stone plinths, each featuring a water bowl for dogs.
The unveiling ceremony was attended by dignitaries, including the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands Mrs Louise Bennett OBE, the Mayor of Walsall Councillor Anthony Harris and Mayoress Christina Harris, Deputy Mayor Councillor Louise Harrison and her Consort, the Leader of Walsall Council Councillor Garry Perry and the council’s Chief Executive Emma Bennett.
Representatives from local organisations were present including representatives from the Walsall Arboretum User Group, West Midlands Police and West Midlands Fire Service.
The event also featured a performance by the West Midlands Police Brass Band and a poignant poem read by local poet Emma Purshouse.
“ It was a great honour to unveil these beautiful corgi statues created in memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She placed her service to her people, country and Commonwealth first and had a number of passions for the countryside particularly Balmoral in Scotland.
“We also know she had a passion for her animals, especially her corgis, so how unique of Walsall to commemorate the life of the late Queen with a very special statue. “
“ I was delighted to assist the Vice Lord-Lieutenant in unveiling the statues at Walsall Arboretum. The Queen's lifelong love of dogs is something many of us can relate to, and the sculptures will help us preserve her memory and represent the treasured memories that many of us hold on to.
Also, as Mayor of Walsall, it is my privilege to raise funds for my chosen charities and it is appropriate that one of these charities is the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
I hope that visitors, families and children will love the corgis and bring their own dogs to visit as well. “
Ends
Notes to editors
• Walsall Arboretum celebrates 150 years as a public park this year. Its history lies in the historic core of the park, the site of limestone mines active circa 1770 to 1835.
• Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll visited the Arboretum in 1962 on the first official visit of her reign to Walsall where she graciously inspected hundreds of Brownies, Cubs, Guides, Scouts, and other uniformed youth organizations.
• The Arboretum is part of the UNESCO Black Country Global Geopark.
• It comprises 170 acres of green space in and adjacent to Walsall town centre.
• It holds a coveted Green Flag Award - one of eleven Green Flags Walsall Council holds for green spaces across the borough.
• The Arboretum welcomes well in excess of a million visitors each year.
• Walsall Arboretum and Country Park was designated the first Ancient Tree Site in the West Midlands by the Woodland Trust in 2024, a testament to its remarkable collection of veteran and ancient trees.
• The opening of the Knight's Copse took place in Walsall Arboretum on Friday 28 April 2023. A short ceremony took place at which the (former) Lord Lieutenant of West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE, formally opened the Knight's Copse which was created with donations from members of The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor to commemorate the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Find out more about Walsall's parks and green spaces here: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/parks-and-green-spaces
• Planet Art is experienced in creating work for the public realm and has a long history of working with Walsall Arboretum. Existing work includes ornate signage in the historic core of the park on the centre green, a variety of giant carved wooden seeds on the exterior of the Visitor Centre and a detailed leaf-shaped piece illustrating the poem ‘A Park Is’ by Peadar O'Donoghue. For more information, visit:
www.planetartsculpture.co.uk
• For more information about how to support the charity Guide Dogs for the Blind, one of the Mayor of Walsall’s charities this year, please visit the council’s website
