A new Memorial Garden is being developed in the heart of Cambourne thanks to £20,000 funding from South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Improving the High Street grant.
The project is creating a dedicated space for reflection, remembrance, and civic pride.
In a powerful show of community spirit, local veterans planted flowers and shrubs in the garden today (Wednesday 22 October) to help shape a space that honours their service and supports future generations. Their involvement reflects the deep personal significance of the project and the strong ties Cambourne has to its military heritage.
The project means the town will have a permanent war memorial, as well as memorial benches, pathways, flower beds, and planting. The Memorial Garden will serve as the central location for Cambourne’s annual Remembrance Parade and ceremony, while also commemorating historic national events.
Cllr Helene Leeming, a district councillor for Cambourne and a member of Cambourne Town Council, said: “I’m really pleased to see that this memorial garden has been built. Cambourne is 25 years old, but unlike lots of towns and villages, we didn’t have a war memorial. There are many people who live here and want to show their gratitude. There are also lots of veterans in our community who want to pay their respects to their colleagues. So, we are very grateful to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for this funding, and Cambourne Town Council for all the work that they’ve put in to bring this about. Lots of us have worked together to make this happen – even the tarmac company have put red fleck into the tarmac to bring out the colour red like a poppy. A huge thank you of course to the veterans who have helped us with the planting too.”
Located at the Eastgate / Jeavons Lane junction, the new garden will offer a green, inclusive space at the end of the High Street, and is designed to be a lasting civic asset which enhances the town centre, brings the community together, and honours those who have served.
Cambourne Town Council received £20,000 funding for the scheme from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund grant. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is the lead authority for delivery of the Fund, while the District Council is responsible for grant scheme delivery and allocation.
Paul Bristow, Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough said: “I welcome the creation of this new Memorial Garden in Cambourne, where residents can come to reflect on the sacrifice of our armed services and honour the fallen. Green spaces play a vital role in enriching our communities, as does an understanding of our shared history. Congratulations to the Town Council and all involved in this thoughtful initiative, I hope everyone in Cambourne will enjoy using the new garden.”
A personal insight from Cambourne District Cllr, Dr. Shrobona Bhattacharya:
Our family had to leave the country due to the bombing of Rangoon in 1942. India was then under the British Empire. My uncle was in the British Air Force and fought in WWII in Rangoon. When the Japanese started bombing Rangoon, the capital of Burma, the British Government sent women and children to India by ship. The male members, however, were not given passage, they were forced to walk to India.
My grandfather died a few days after arriving in Calcutta; most of the men didn’t survive the journey, it was a tragic journey for the men who were crossing the Arakan to reach India. This tragic journey became known as part of the Burma Exodus of 1942, also remembered as the Great Trek or the Arakan March. My father was born in Rangoon, and the whole family had to flee because of the bombings. Our family houses were in Rangoon and Mandalay, Burma. This is part of my own family’s story. Every time I visit the American Cemetery in Cambridge, I feel deeply for those soldiers and their families who never returned home and are buried there.
Since moving to Cambourne, I have been well connected with all communities, and I am truly happy that we now have a memorial garden to reflect and remember. Many veterans worked hard for peace, but the most important thing is that our respect must always be shown to those who lost their lives so others could have a better world. On that note, I would also like to add, as you know, many Indian soldiers served as part of the British Empire during both the First and Second World Wars. More than 1.3 million Indian soldiers fought in the First World War, with around 74,000 killed and over 67,000 wounded. In the Second World War, over 2.5 million Indian soldiers served, the largest volunteer army in history at that time with tens of thousands losing their lives or being wounded in battle.
Most people don’t realise how deeply Indian soldiers were involved in WWII due to geography, but it’s a hard truth that nearly four million Indians served in the two world wars for the British Empire. I hope people will not forget these contributions.