When Helen Cadbury died last month, scores of friends, writers, neighbours and colleagues wanted to create a permanent memorial to the inspirational author, poet and activist.
We have now formed a Friends Of Helen Cadbury group and joined forces with the Friends of Glen Gardens, who look after the public park a few yards from Helen's home in Heworth, York.
Our aim is to raise a substantial sum for a ‘poetry bench’. The 'bench' will be much more than a standard park seat. It will stand in a landscaped area surrounded by flowers and shrubs. The plan is to inscribe some of Helen's words in the stone-paved area where the bench will stand. A canopy or pergola will be added later to provide shade and shelter in what we hope will become a meeting place for friends, neighbours, writers and readers, perhaps even an outdoor performance place too.
Our initial fundraising target is £5,000. But that target will be 'stretched' significantly when we know the likely cost of the substantial works being planned.
A small group (including a sculptor, woodcarver and architectural metalworker) are already working on design ideas to be presented to Helen's family and our friends at Glen Gardens, before the plans are shared for approval by the city council officials responsible for parks and open spaces.
Any surplus monies raised will be donated to Accessible Arts & Media, a York charity which Helen chaired for several years. Please share this page with writers and friends and donate to this worthwhile effort which we hope will result in a treasured community asset for the people of Heworth, and a lasting memorial to our much-missed indefatigable friend, Helen Cadbury.
For more information and updates, visit the Facebook group: Friends Of Helen Cadbury at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1962289124050441/ and ask to become a group member.
For any other enquiries, email: davenick01@mac.com
Picture courtesy The Press, York