A plaque and flowerbed were officially unveiled in Stone today to honour the surviving Swynnerton Roses and those who are no longer with us.
The bed, which has been planted by Stone in Bloom members at Walton Community Centre, contains 12 rose plants, each supplied by David Austin Roses and individually sponsored by a member of the community.
The plaque, sponsored by George Beecham, was unveiled by Lady Jane Harrowby of Sandon Hall, recognising the bravery of the women who worked at the Old Royal Ordnance Munitions Factory in Swynnerton during the Second World War, particularly those who lost their lives. The flowerbed and plaque were blessed by Rev Ian Cardinal from St Michael’s Church.
Swynnerton Roses Monica Chidlow, Alice Heath, Olive Skellern and Joan Key attended the ceremony and also enjoyed a cream tea afterwards, kindly supplied by the Co-op on the High Street and Morrisons.
There are audio interviews with Alice and Monica here…
1 comment
Bridgid Tonks
This is wonderful to see, my grandmother, Elsie Smith was A Canary Girl at Swynnerton Munitions Factory during WW2, sadly I never had the chance to meet her as she died in 1953 due to the effects of the terrible chemical they were all exposed too. While Grandma toiled away at Swynnerton 3 of her sons were away from home, fighting to keep her, my Aunt and my dad, who was just a kid at the time, safe. John was a DEMS Gunner in the Navy, Allen was a Desert Rat in the army and Ray who lied about his age joined the Army when he had just turned 15 and ended up in Burma, they all came home alive but very changed men, I’m now the only one left, God rest my family who all did their bit for our futures