Gloria gets to plant second royal celebratory tree

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AN ALVECHURCH woman helped plant a tree to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on Wednesday (May 30), 76 years on from when she planted one to honour the coronation of King George VI in 1935.

Gloria Packwood, 85, rooted the crab apple tree with Bromsgrove District Council chairman June Griffiths and her fellow residents at Grosvenor House care home on Aquaduct Lane, Alvechurch.

When she was nine, Gloria planted a tree next to the library of Kings Norton School in Birmingham and also won a prize of five shillings for her red, white and blue dress made by her mother.

She said: "Now I am involved in another royal tree planting, which brings my memories flooding back and makes me feel proud.”

Coun Griffiths, who led the ceremony said: "It was a very pleasant afternoon and I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of the jubilee celebrations."

The tree will be one of 6million planted as part of the Queen’s Jubilee Woods project.

Mark Brunner, manager at Grosvenor House, said: "We’re very proud that we will be part of the national project and that we’re leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.

"Some of our residents remember The Queen’s coronation and the tree-planting ceremony should get everyone in a patriotic mood for the full programme of jubilee celebrations we have planned."

Residents from Grosvenor House are having a five-day Jubilee celebration starting today including a riverside picnic, cricket, a street party, live entertainment and bunting.

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