Plans announced for firefighters tribute in new Bancroft gardens entertainment area
Plans have been announced for a new public entertainment area in the Bancroft Gardens that will feature a permanent Tribute to the work of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service and the four fire-fighters who lost their lives in the Atherstone fire tragedy of November 2007.
The feature will take the form of an analemmatic sundial, incorporating human action to indicate time and season. This will be incorporated into the stage of the new entertainment area, with the river Avon providing the back-drop and views downriver towards Holy Trinity Church.
Members of the fire-fighters’ families originally suggested the idea of a Tribute in Stratford and this has been incorporated into the overall Bancroft re-landscaping scheme.
The names of John Averis, Darren Yates-Badley, Ian Reid and Ashley Stevens will be engraved on a plaque as part of a unique stone bench designed by artist Richard Kindersley and positioned at the top of the viewing area overlooking the sundial.
Station manager Neil McElvenny of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service explained further: “The fire service has worked very closely with the families in developing the idea of this permanent, public tribute. It recognises the work of the entire service to communities throughout Warwickshire as well of course as the ultimate sacrifice of the lost lives of our friends and colleagues following the incident at Atherstone-on-Stour.
“This area of the gardens will become a popular place of enjoyment, entertainment and happy times and we think that is a fitting way for the public to remember John, Darren, Ian and Ashley. That’s why we have decided to call these features tributes rather than memorials,” explained Mr McElvenny.
The analemmatic sundial and stone bench were added to the original plans for the new events area following discussions between the service, the County Council and World Class Stratford. The cost of the Tribute is being shared between Warwickshire County Council and the Atherstone-on-Stour Firefighters’ Appeal.
Work is already underway and scheduled for completion in time for the formal
re-opening of the Bancroft Gardens in late April.