Rory’s Tree
Paul, Rory’s Dad, has written the following:
Rory was the eldest of my two sons, and he was born on the 25th March 1986. He lived with our family in Altrincham and attended St. Vincent’s Infants, Primary and Junior Schools and then North Cestrian Grammar School, where he flourished.
He was a truly lovely boy to raise, full of fun, questions and always on the go. It was the privilege of my life being his Dad.
During his earliest years, he would go to Stamford Park two or three times a week. In fact, he did this all of his life, even as a young man. He knew every single inch of this park, seeing it change mood and character during each of the four seasons and he would partake in all of the sports and activities below:
Tennis, basketball, football, cricket, cycling, climbing trees, roller skating, skateboarding, feeding the ducks, chasing the squirrels, flying his kite, walking, running, snowball fights, playing hide and seek, climbing trees, jumping in the autumn leaf fall, enjoying countless ice cream cornets, fishing for tadpoles in the pond, playing with his remote-control toys in the area that was once a paddling pool and climbing trees. (Yes, mentioned three times, Rory loved climbing Stamford Park’s trees).
When Rory passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in an accident on 13th December 2017, aged 31 years old, it shocked and broke the hearts of all those who knew and loved him throughout the various stages of his life. The tree you now see so beautifully positioned and planted as a focal point at the centre of the Ornamental Garden was given to our family by my wonderful former colleagues at The Christie Hospital.
The gesture was in Rory’s memory and given in tribute to his life. The official name and genus of this tree is a ‘Prunus Yoshina Pendula’, a Weeping Almond.
After receiving the sapling, I considered for quite some considerable time how best to plant it, and indeed where best to plant it. Stamford Park became the obvious and most perfect choice. Trafford Council very kindly granted me permission to plant and maintain the tree in the park.
On the 30th November 2018, Trafford’s Head of Parks Management, John Stevens, a well-respected local contractor, Paul Grainge, along with Cllr. Tony Fishwick met us in Stamford Park and planted our tree as a loving tribute to my late son, who loved the park so much. We were also granted permission to plant bulbs around the base of the tree, so that blooms would appear each year around Rory’s birthday.
Now nine years have passed since its planting, the tree has rooted well, established itself, flowers profusely on cue each Spring and thrives where it best belongs.
Should anyone ever pass by ‘Rory’s Tree’ do please remember Rory, and most of all have a great time in Stamford Park. It’s a jewel.
