(Dedicated to all members of our community Past, Present and Future)
After three long years in the planning and building, the sun shining brightly and with what seemed like the entire community present, the Kiveton Park & Wales Community garden and gazebo was finally open. The official opening ceremony took place on the evening of Tuesday the 22nd June 2010
Opening the proceedings Steph Hryschko chair of the Kiveton Park & Wales trust welcomed everybody, introduced the dignitaries and told the story of the garden and gazebos conception and how it is dedicated to all the members of our community Past, Present and Future. The cutting of the ribbon was performed by Kiveton’s own world motorcycle champion James Toseland and Yorkshire TV’s “Heartbeat” actor Steven Blakeley. Steven although born in Chesterfield has many family links with Kiveton and his grandmother who he accompanied to the event is a lifelong Kiveton resident.
The ceremony was also attended by the deputy mayor of Rotherham and deputy mayoress along with June Perkins a former Kiveton girl who became Miss England in 1958 and who made a special trip from her home in London to attend the event. Also present was the vicar of Wales Gary Schofield who in a short ceremony blessed the garden and gazebo. There was a fantastic turnout by local residents young and old many of whom had purchased an engraved commemorative brick which had been included in the building of the gazebo, others donated plants or commemorative benches. Steph Hryschko said “the turn out was overwhelming and it was real pleasure to see and welcome so many of our community”
Keith Stone secretary of the trust at the time said “what a great evening, such fabulous weather and so pleasing to see so our community come together for an event like this” The building of the gazebo has been entirely carried out by volunteers, none more so than Arthur Whiteway 82 and his brother Edward 72 who worked hundreds of hours on the project, both of whom can be seen on the roof of the gazebo in one of our pictures. All the materials used to construct the gazebo have been generously donated by local companies, along with turf, plants, fencing, gates and railings.
The garden and gazebo are situated to the rear of the Old Colliery offices on Colliery road and are currently open mon – fri 9 – 5 although the garden can be opened out of hours by prior arrangement. The garden is a lovely setting away from all the hustle and bustle and noise of the traffic. It also incorporates disabled access so that ALL members of our community can spend either some quiet time remembering a loved one or just a place to have some quality time to gather their thoughts.
