Plaque honours lifelong friendship at new ‘Memory Lane’ garden

The new Memory Lane garden is a place for people to reflect and remember

A special plaque celebrating a lifetime of friendship has been installed at a new ‘Memory Lane’ area at Hft’s 117 Hitchin Road residential service.

Don Pilkington, whose son Alistair is supported at the Hitchin Road service, lost his long time friend Tony last year.

The pair had been friends for decades and used to enjoy chatting about golf.

Tony’s family bequeathed money to 117 Hitchin Road as a thank you for the support received by Alistair.

Don was keen that the money was spent in the garden, in a newly created Memory Lane area.

The money has been used to purchase a plaque – with a quote about friendship engraved on it.

The plaque reads ‘The greatest gift in life is friendship and we have received it at 117.’

The new Memory Lane area already has a number of features in it, all donated by learning disabled adults supported at the site who have also been involved in its creation.

Items include plants, a butterfly and a robin.

There is also has a bench with a plaque with the wording ‘Remembering People in the Sky’ for those who have lost loved ones.

117 Hitchin Road Service Manager Claire Davies-Sond said: “The Memory Lane area is a new feature at Hitchin Road and we want it to be a place where people can go and remember and celebrate those no longer with us.

“This can be people who are in the sky or those who were once supported here but have since moved on.

“It is touching to know that the money from Tony’s family has been used to provide a special plaque to celebrate friendship – something which is important to us all at Hitchin Road.”

The new Memory Lane area was officially opened by Don who gave a speech talking about his friendship with Tony.

Don was assisted by his son Alistair and 117 Hitchin Road’s own mayor Ken Pollard.