A ceremony was held on Tuesday 24th June to celebrate both the 25th anniversary of Darwin Gardens Millennium Green and to unveil a new memorial to commemorate Frazer Irwin, who was a key driving force and visionary behind the original concept for the Gardens’ creation in 2000.
Frazer Irwin sadly passed away in 2022, but his legacy has provided so many people with moments of joy and tranquillity, with Darwin Gardens offering residents and visitors a serene, family-friendly spot in which to rest and relax.
As the 25-year anniversary started to approach, Mark Hunnebell and his partner Joanne Everall, who were good friends of Frazer, proposed creating a memorial in the Gardens that could explain who Frazer Irwin was and describe his role in the restoration of this now beautiful green space within Ilkley.
The memorial began to take shape, with beautiful artwork depicting Frazer Irwin and Darwin Gardens being created for a lectern-style information board, placed at such a height that it could easily be read by people who are standing, but also by wheelchair users.
Mark Hunnebell gave an evocative speech during the unveiling of the new memorial on Tuesday, saying, “Thanks are due to all of Frazer’s friends who have contributed money to the memorial and to Ilkley Town Council and the Darwin Gardens Millennium Green Trust for their support for the project. I would also like to thank local artist and friend of Frazer, John Giles, for his fantastic artwork illustrating the surround of the panel. Frazer had a fondness for all things oriental, which is why a Chinese proverb was chosen for the memorial: ‘Life begins the day you start a garden’. Happy 25th anniversary Darwin Gardens Millennium Green and may life continue and may Frazer Irwin be remembered by Ilkley, the town he loved.”
