5 MARCH 2021- THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF KEITH'S PASSING
Friday, March 5, 2021
On Friday Friday 5th March it will be the first anniversary of
Keith's passing. Sadly due to Coronavirus life is still not back to
normal and no-one is really able to meet up in large numbers as we
did before the Pandemic.
I had hoped to hold a memorial service for Keith but as things
stand it will be a long time before everyone feels safe to meet up
like that so I have decided not to pursue this.
Notwithstanding this although Keith was unable to have the
funeral he deserved I did at least receive over 200 cards of
sympathy and that is not counting all the emails I also
received.
The general opinion from everyone was that he was a true
gentleman and so kind and generous to everyone he met and indeed a
great plantsman. So many of you have said how pleased you are to
have a memory of Keith in your gardens having bought plants from
Cilgwyn Lodge and his memory lives on. I have continued to maintain
the garden on my own to the best of my ability and on Tuesday this
week our dear friend Robert came to do the first Spring cut of the
lawns so that once again the stripes were restored to the lawns at
Cilgwyn Lodge which Keith was always very proud of.
Some of you may know by now that I was contacted by Joseph Atkin
the head Gardner of Aberglasney Gardens Carmarthenshire as he
wanted me to come and oversee the planting of a Magnolia tree in
memory of Keith. What a fitting and fantastic tribute for Keith.
Keith really loved Magnolia trees but alas were not suitable for
planting at the Lodge. The Magnolia tree Joseph planted is called
Magnolia Tikitere and is a new one from New Zealand. It has deep
pink buds on the outside and opens to white flowers on the inside
and flowers in April. I was immensely proud of this gesture by
Joseph and is such a fitting tribute and memorial for Keith. At
least I will be able in the future to meet up with friends and
acquaintances at Aberglasney and say Hello to Keith with them.
Although it is 12 months since Keith's passing I continue to
miss him every day. In the words of Keith's sister Heather whose
message I received this week she considers me to be a star getting
through all I have had to deal with on my own and triumphing over
adversity.
I send love and best wishes to you all and let's hope there will
finally be an end to this Pandemic which has touched everyone.
MOIRAXX