On 28th April 2017 England’s 1st World Peace Flame Monument was installed here in Garforth, Leeds. Garforth in Bloom provided the beautiful setting for this within the Diamond Jubilee Garden, which had been restored by volunteers from waste land.
The wonderful event was supported and funded by Garforth in Bloom, Local Independent Councillors Mark Dobson and Sarah Field and The Garforth and District Lions.
The event was very well attended by over a 100 local people, our supporting Councillors and other dignitaries including the Chair of Leeds City Council’s Peacelink Group, representatives of Concord Interfaith and our local M.P.
In a ceremony which commenced in the local Miner’s Welfare Hall the attendees were introduced to the history of the W.P.F. Then Englands 1st W.P.F. was lit by representatives of the community groups who helped fund the project.
There was then a procession to the Diamond Jubilee Garden for the unveiling of the new monument (with its miner’s lamp, now the Garforth World Peace Flame, placed within it) designed to be in keeping with the other garden features. The structure also has the unique feature, which enables visitors to take away their own tea light candle, lit from the peace flame.
A peace quote from Mahatma Gandhi was read by Peace Ambassador, and long time advocate of the W.P.F. Linda Strickler, and a minutes silence for peace was honoured by all.
