Author: Craig Smith

Platinum Jubilee Tree of Trees Gifting Ceremony

Queen Elizabeth II portrait with the Queen's Green Canopy Logo

The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a UK-wide tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. The QGC initiative has been extended to the end of the planting season in March 2023, to give people an opportunity to plant trees to honour Her Majesty.

Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the QGC “Tree of Trees” sculpture sought to put the importance of trees at the heart of this historic milestone to celebrate Her Majesty, who planted over 1,500 trees all over the world throughout her 70-year reign.

Children preparing a tree to go onto the Tree of Trees sculpture
Children preparing a tree to go onto the Tree of Trees Sculpture

During the summer, the trees were cared for by Barcham’s Nursery ahead of distribution at the start of the planting season this month.

The trees have been gifted evenly across the UK in proportion to the population, with each county receiving at least one tree. Greater Manchester received 12 trees. Deputy Lieutenants from each Borough suggested worthy recipients from across the County and The Lord-Lieutenant selected 12 groups to receive the special trees. Joined by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff, the Deputy Lieutenants and the Mayor’s of each Borough, the Lord-Lieutenant gifted them to the groups at a ceremony at the University of Bolton Stadium, the home of Bolton Wanderers FC.

The Lord-Lieutenant opens the ceremony for the gifting of the Tree of Trees
The Lord-Lieutenant opens the Tree of Trees Gifting Ceremony

The Lord-Lieutenant is very much looking forward to attending the tree planting ceremonies at each of the 12 venues.

The fabulous groups were as follows:

Bolton

Fortalice
Fortalice has been providing frontline services since 1977 for those affected by domestic abuse and violence. A well-respected charity, they are proud recipients of QAVS. They have grown from a 2 room Refuge to the current purpose built 22-unit building housing 22 women and their children. They also have an Outreach Support Centre providing advice, counselling, support and training.

Bury

Age UK Bury
This charity provides a lifeline within the communities of Bury. It provides support to those that are lonely, those suffering with age related illness or just unable to apply for grants or services for any reason. During this last year, they supported hundreds of individuals each week, in person or on the phone, helping them sort out problems, or providing much needed activities. Their Information and Advice Service, in the last 12 months alone, has responded to 1,800 calls for help. They have also supported older people to claim over £1.6 million pounds in benefits

The Heathlands Village
The Manchester Jewish Federation, known as Heathlands, is a leading Jewish social care charity. Situated in Bury, Greater Manchester, it serves the local community in many ways. Specialist services include residential and nursing care, supported independent living, hospital discharge, end of life care, a trailblazing dementia unit, adult and family social work. They also offer community care, outreach and support for all ages.

Manchester

Friends of Sackville Gardens
Sackville Gardens is a small park in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village The Friends Group work with the Council and local communities to keep the Gardens as a green space that all can use and value. The Gardens are laid out with walks, lawns and flower beds for public use. The gardens feature memorials and space to reflect. Memorials include The Beacon of Hope, the UK’s only permanent memorial for people who lost their lives to HIV or AIDS. 

Oldham

MAHDLO Youth Zone
Mahdlo provide opportunities for over 3000 young people in a very deprived area, 7 days a week. Supporting the environment is one of the key elements they engage the youngsters in. They have outside garden areas where they grow their own veg. Street parties were held to recognise the Queens Platinum Jubilee and to have a tree planted in the area would be a great boost for this deprived area of Oldham.

Rochdale

Rochdale in Bloom
Rochdale in Bloom is a community based, volunteer led organisation dedicated to brightening up Rochdale for residents and visitors alike.
Since 2010 they have devoted their efforts to building community links, tackling gaps in social infrastructure and creating a green environment for Rochdale residents to take pride and get involved in.

Salford

Buile Hill Mansion Association
Buile Hill Mansion Association is a charity which has put the heart back into Buile Hill Park. The park had no major council funding, and the park and its Mansion had fallen into disrepair. It is located in one of Salford’s most challenging areas. The BHMA have worked hard to restore the community use of the Park which had been abandoned to drug users and vandals. They have built a sculpture trail; organised community events and they have planted 130 trees for the QGC. When they advertised for people to help plant the trees, 150 volunteers from the community turned up.

Stockport

The CMA Welfare Trust
CMA was established in 2004 and were worthy recipients of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2019. Their focus is to serve the Muslim and non-Muslim community in the context of cohesion, interfaith and mutual collaboration to meet the wider needs of a changing population in terms of health, education, mental well-being and social care. The internal and external impact of being awarded a tree will be exceptional and warmly received.

Tameside

Hattersley Community Big Garden Project
In three years, this dedicated group of volunteers have taken what was a rundown and neglected site and transformed it into a little oasis at the heart of their local community. Hattersley is one of the 20% most deprived and unhealthiest districts in England and where health is lower than the English average. The aim of this group of volunteers is therefore, to better the lives of their community through gardening and fresh air, whilst creating a self-sustainable area for all to enjoy.

Trafford

Friends of Worthington Park
The Friends of Worthington Park are a voluntary group established to work with Trafford Council and other partners to safeguard and improve the facilities of this local park. Once again, this year they have been awarded the Green Flag status. This 16-acre park is very much used and loved by members of the public. Three sets of main gates were installed to mark the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.

G-Force
The Broomwood Estate in Greater Manchester ranks in the top tier of multiple deprivation. For 23 years local people have worked together to alleviate hardship, transforming the lives of individuals and families in their community. Led by local couple Paul and Tina Huxley, they are ‘GForce’, a community charity with hundreds of local volunteers. They find education and employment for the socially exclude

Wigan

The Bridgers receive their Tree

The Bridgers
This exceptional group of volunteers undertake environmental, pastoral, social and educational initiatives within Howe Bridge, an area of multiple deprivation.
This inclusive group unites all people and groups within the village including residents (all generations), church, school, sports clubs, environmental group, and social clubs for the common good of their community. Formed in 1998 the group took over a derelict piece of land, encouraged volunteers from all walks of life, and turned it into a beautiful and much-loved community garden named Colliers Corner in honour of the village’s proud mining heritage.

Visit to Willow Wood Hospice

The Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Diane Hawkins, with The Mayor and Mayoress of Tameside, and the Chief Executive, Trustees and Patrons of Willow Wood Hospice
The Lord-Lieutenant, with The Mayor and Mayoress of Tameside, and the Chief Executive, Trustees and Patrons of Willow Wood Hospice

To coincide with National Hospice Care Week, the Lord-Lieutenant visited Willow Wood Hospice in Tameside to tour, meet and thank the staff and volunteers for their wonderful work and to place an engraved stone, in memory of Queen Elizabeth ll, in their Memory Pool and Fountain. She was joined on the visit by The Mayor and Mayoress of Tameside and the Chief Executive, Trustees and Patrons of the Trust.

Willow Wood Hospice is an adult Hospice providing specialist palliative care for patients with life limiting illnesses, both cancer and non-cancer diagnosis. They provide care, free of charge, and with patients, families and their carers are at the centre of everything they do. 8 out of 10 patients are cared for by money raised by donations given to them. Over the years, they have had many requests from families who would like to place a tribute to their loved ones in their gardens. However, they didn’t have the space for benches or for trees to be planted in their honour and so created the Memory Pool and Fountain where Memory Stones can be placed.

The Lord-Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant placing a memory stone engraved with The Queen's name into the memory pool at Willow Wood Hospice
The Lord-Lieutenant and Vice Lord-Lieutenant placing a memory stone engraved with The Queen’s name into the memory pool at Willow Wood Hospice

The Chair of Trustees gave a speech in which he said the Hospice was honoured and delighted to host the Lord-Lieutenant and gave an insight into what the Hospice does and the challenges it faces. He also paid tribute to the late Queen for her lifetime of public service. The Lord-Lieutenant then responded, thanking them and acknowledging their Queen’s Award for Voluntary service in 2016. They have over 600 volunteers working in a huge variety of functions and saving them over a £1M in wages. She said, “I am very impressed by the dedication and commitment shown by the staff and how they work symbiotically with all the volunteers”.

Mrs Sharman Birtles, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant holding a note about what Hospice Care Means to her. It reads Love.
Mrs Sharman Birtles, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant shows what Hospice Care means to her.

Mark Llewellin, The Vice Chair of Trustees, was also part of the team that welcomed the Lord-Lieutenant. Mark has been involved with Willow Wood for over 20 years; his late partner, the actor Roy Barraclough MBE was the first Patron. The Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Mrs Sharman Birtles, who is a current Patron was also present at the event.

The Death of Queen Elizabeth II

21st April 1926 – 8th September 2022
Reigned as Monarch from 1952 until 2022

The Lord-Lieutenant was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of The Queen. It was a day of great sadness for Greater Manchester, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. It was akin to the passing of the Head of a worldwide family of over 2½ billion people. It was an extraordinarily long reign; the longest of any British Sovereign and an outstanding example of service both in wartime and peacetime.

Since Greater Manchester was formed in 1974, Queen Elizabeth visited 28 times, visiting 74 different venues. She visited 9 times on her own and 19 times with her loving husband, The Duke of Edinburgh. Her first visit was in June 1977 and her last visit was in July 2021.

Queen Elizabeth speaking to members of the community from across Greater Manchester.
The Queen speaking to members of the community from across Greater Manchester at Manchester Cathedral

The most recent visit in July 2021 was to Coronation Street for their 60th Anniversary and Manchester Cathedral to mark the 600th Anniversary Celebration of the Collegiate Church. At the Cathedral she met groups of people from across the North West who were influential or had done extraordinary work within their local communities. Her Majesty wished to meet those who were very much hands on.

In 1992 she officially opened the Metrolink taking a ride on a tram to passer-by’s surprise. She met volunteers and staff during the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and attended the Squash and Hockey events. Along with the Duke of Edinburgh she came to Greater Manchester in March 2012 for her Diamond Jubilee, opening the Central University Hospital, visiting Children’s BBC (whilst the Duke visited Salford University) had lunch at Manchester town hall and then attended the Urban Garden party at Manchester Central (Greater Manchester’s spin on a royal garden party). Tens of thousands of people saw her, either at the hospital, lining the streets of Manchester and Salford, outside the town hall or in Manchester Central.

Following the Manchester Bomb in 2017 she came, and at least temporarily lifted everyone’s spirits, by visiting first responders, staff at the MRI and those injured and being treated.

The Queen was also represented at visits to over 1100 organisations or venues across Greater Manchester by other members of the Royal Family.

King Charles III
His Majesty King Charles III

The Lord-Lieutenant sent her Condolences to all the members of the Royal Family, looks back with gratitude and looks forward to offering her support and loyalty to The King.

Sir Warren Smith Retires as Lord-Lieutenant

On the 4th July Sir Warren Smith KCVO KStJ JP retired after serving for 15 years as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

Sir Warren Smith

Sir Warren was appointed as Justice of the Peace in 1983, was made a Deputy Lieutenant in 1995 and was selected as High Sheriff for Greater Manchester in the shrieval year 1997/98 before becoming the Lord-Lieutenant on the 24th June 2007, succeeding Col Sir John Timmins. Social exclusion had always been an interest for him, and he had chaired or had been a trustee of national, regional, and local organisations dealing with drug, alcohol and mental health problems, community relations, poverty and justice. He maintained an interest in these areas throughout his time as Lord-Lieutenant, particularly community relations and so it is no surprise that he developed the Lieutenancy to be as diverse and as inclusive as possible. Through active recruitment the Lieutenancy now reflects the cultural mix of Greater Manchester and has a gender balance.

Sir Warren with Sir John and James Timpson during a visit to present their Queens award for Enterprise
Sir Warren with Sir John and James Timpson during a visit to present their Queens Award for Enterprise in 2019

Sir Warren became the patron or president of over 40 organisations whilst Lord-Lieutenant, and he will continue to work with several of them during retirement. His active interest in the work of these organisations along with his ideas to increase the visibility of the Lieutenancy and to contribute to the civic life of Greater Manchester kept him extremely active. For the years 2008-2021 he completed over 5200 engagements or meetings which is an average of 377 per year.

In addition to his engagements, he steered the Lieutenancy to promote the Queens Award for Voluntary Service which led to Greater Manchester having the most nominations and awards in the UK for last 5 years. Under his leadership the Lieutenancy has delivered several pilot programmes for the Honours and Appointments Office in Cabinet Office to increase the quantity and quality of Honours nominations especially for underrepresented groups. This culminating in the best Honour’s Lists in the past few years since Greater Manchester was created in 1974. The most recent lists have also had a much higher representation of ethnic minority groups than the national picture and Greater Manchester average. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020, 32% of recipients in Greater Manchester were from an ethnic minority background.

Sir Warren Smith greets The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Manchester Airport
Sir Warren greets HM The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Manchester Airport

During his tenure Sir Warren hosted 116 Royal visits to 340 venues including 6 visits of Her Majesty The Queen, either on her own, or with The Duke of Edinburgh. The first Royal Visit he hosted was a two day patronage visit by the Earl of Wessex in July 2007 and his last was the Princess Royal in June 2022 to the British Cardiovascular Society Centenary Conference.

Following the Manchester Atrocity in 2017 he supported Manchester City Council throughout the recovery. He helped organise and hosted visits by The Queen, The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge within the first few weeks of the aftermath. Subsequently he helped organise The visit of the Duke of Cambridge to the first anniversary and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to the official opening of the Glade of Light Memorial this year. He is a member of the Memorial Trust and will remain so after retirement.

The Princess Royal knighting Sir Warren Smith at Windsor Castle
The Princess Royal knighting Sir Warren at Windsor Castle

In the NY Honours list 2020 he was Knighted, becoming a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. The Princess Royal conducted the investiture at Windsor Castle.

Sir Warren loves his garden, which doubled as his office and meeting place during fine days where visitors were also entertained by the everlasting energy of his Norfolk Terriers. Currently he has two – Esse and Bobby, Esse is very loving, and Bobby is a little mischievous to say the least. His dogs were even spotted by The Queen on a visit, when she arrived in a helicopter on the fields to the rear of his house. He enjoys cooking and entertaining friends at home and in the garden and Summerhouse – something he wants to do more of in retirement. He makes pots of lemon curd and bottles of Sloe Gin and Damson Whiskey which he regularly gifts to people.

Sir Warren Smith hands the ceremonial sword over to Mrs Diane Hawkins
Sir Warren hands the Ceremonial Sword to Mrs Hawkins

On the 3rd of July he handed over the ceremonial sword to the new Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Diane Hawkins, in the presence of the Lieutenancy, at afternoon tea at The Monastery Manchester. It was an emotional and enjoyable event and was especially poignant as it was the first full gathering of the Lieutenancy since the start of the pandemic.

Thank you Sir Warren for you generosity, knowledge and leadership of Greater Manchester Lieutenancy and your contribution to the Lieutenancy regionally and nationally.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

It was today announced that his Royal Highness Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh had passed away. It is a day of great sadness for Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family and we offer to them the sincerest condolences from all of us at the Greater Manchester Lieutenancy.

His was a remarkable life of service both to her Majesty the Queen and to this Country. His career of exemplary service to this country started during the Second World War.

He visited Greater Manchester many times and had a long history of support for Salford University which started in 1953 when he succeeded his Majesty King George the Sixth as Patron of the Royal Technical College, Salford. In 1967 having merged with the Royal College of Advanced Technology he became the first Chancellor of the University of Salford. He visited the University many times as Chancellor and after he stood down in 1991 he continued to show an interest in the University opening the University’s Acoustic facility in 2008, and the University of Salford at Media City UK in 2012. Shortly before his retirement, he entertained the Vice-Chancellor and a small group from Salford University at a reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the University.

He opened the new terminal at Manchester Airport in 1962 which was then the first in Europe to incorporate a ‘pier’ system, in which passengers remain under cover until ready to board the aircraft. He revisited in 1993 to open Terminal 2.

His Royal Highness first considered the idea of a national programme to support young people’s development in the autumn of 1954 and launched the pilot for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme in February 1956. In 1979 he visited the scheme in Wigan, Oldham and Manchester and it thrives in Greater Manchester supporting young people across the County.

His visits across the county were countless and enjoyed by thousands of people; his service will be long remembered.

Flags across the County should fly at half mast until 8am on the day after the funeral of His Royal Highness and The Lord-Lieutenant will observe a period of Royal mourning until the 23rd April.

A book of Condolence can be found on the Royal website here