RM Condor garden to provide contemplation for 45 Commando
Professional gardener Toby Buckland has taken centre stage at RM Condor to unveil his ambitious plans for a Garden of Contemplation at the home of 45 Commando.
In the garden (from left) are Lt Col Lee, Toby Buckland, WO2 Steven Shepherd RSM with Hugo Lee and Thomas Cavill.
- By Ralph Barnett
- Published in the Courier : 11.06.10
- Published online : 11.06.10 @ 03.32pm
The garden will provide a peaceful space where serving and former personnel and their families can be alone with their thoughts or spend time with their loved ones.
The aim is to have it ready to host the unit's own Service of Remembrance on November 11 next year.
The concept, thought to be unique in the UK military, was the brainchild of 45 Commando Group commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lee.
He realised that, other than the base's small chapel, his men and their families — especially those whose homes are far from Arbroath — had nowhere to go to reflect on their hopes, fears and, all to often, losses.
Lt Col Lee got in touch with Toby, best known for his work presenting BBC TV's Gardeners' World, and invited him to visit Condor.
With what he described as the 'perfect blank canvas' to work with — an extensive, if somewhat neglected, walled garden that in days gone by supplied the CO's household with fresh fruit and vegetables — Toby let his imagination take flight.
What is a rather featureless flat rectangle will — at the hands of horticulture staff and students from Angus College and the marines themselves — be transformed into a place where service personnel and their families and friends can lose themselves in thought.
Toby said, "I am honoured to have been invited to be involved.
"My admiration for our armed forces could not be higher and, through my father's links with the Royal British Legion, I support them whenever I can."
He added, "As well as a memorial, I hope this garden will become a celebration of the bravery of the men of 45 Commando and a place where they and their loved ones can come and share in that celebration."
"Overgrown and neglected"
At the centre of the garden will be a memorial tablet inscribed with the names of all those associated with 45 Commando Group who had died on active service since the unit came to Arbroath at the end of 1969 — the fallen of Northern Ireland, the Falklands campaign and the more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Contoured landscaping, pathways and planting will allow privacy and, viewed from above, the project will incorporate the Royal Marines' famous globe and laurel cap badge.
The design will also incorporate actual materials brought back from the far-flung regions where members of 45 Commando have fought and died.
45 Commando Group's second-in-command, Major Nick Jepson, said, "A year ago this was an overgrown and neglected corner of the camp. It's incredible to think that by November next year it will be transformed.
"A committee representing everyone from the newest member of the unit to the CO has been formed and we are actively looking for more suggestions for the garden and also fund-raising ideas."
Danielle Wood, whose husband Keiran is a serving member of 45 Commando Group, said, "I think it's a great idea.
"As it all looks very children-friendly, it will be a lovely place to bring the kids and meet up with the other wives on a nice day.
"When the men are away on exercise or operations there's really not anywhere to go and just think things over so I think this will be an excellent addition to the camp facilities."
Donations can be made by visiting the project's online fund-raising page.
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