My Brighton and Hove | Places | Parks | Preston Park

Log in

User name: Password:

How to contribute

Preston Park

Photo by Sue Craig

A personal memorial

By Sue Craig

I often walk through Preston Park with my dog, Molly. The other day I came across these carved tree trunks on either side of the children's play area. One is in the shape of an oakleaf and the other, I'm not sure - a beech seed? The beautifully illustrated brass plaques say that they are in celebration of the life of Chris Clay by his family, friends, council and BRICEP colleagues.

The oak leaf
The oakleaf shape says that the surrounding area has been planted with trees from various parts of the world. There are illustrations of them: English elm, holly, beech, hawthorn and rowan and there is this inscription:
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there. I did not die.

The heart
The other, the 'heart' shape, is illustrated with flowers which would have been grown in the original ancient hedge and which have been planted under the nearby hedge - dog violet, lesser celandine, oxeye daisy, bluebell, meadow cranesbill and common knapweed. It has this inscription:
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow

A sign of the times?
A couple of days later, Molly and I were again in Preston Park. As I strolled along the path between the bowling greens and the derelict basketball courts, a popular location for graffiti, I noticed a black mark in the middle of the brass plaque. I stopped to take a closer look, wondering if someone had stubbed out a cigarette on it. The memorial had been sprayed."

Submitted to website 16-Oct-03.

This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments about this page

I read the beautiful Personal View by Sue Craig about the carved memorials at Preston Park. We lived in Brighton for 15 years, had our babies there, taught in local schools, cycled, played and picnic-ed in the park. We moved to Melbourne, Australia in 1999 and yet a huge part of me remains in Brighton so it was with fond memories I read these texts. The graffiti reminded me of the reasons we left. Something really has died. The memorial is not just for Chris Clay.

By Alison Bate (30/11/2005)

I remember Preston Park with a great deal of fondness. My family lived in the house at the top of Black Hill and although Hove Park was almost equal distance to walk, Preston Park was our favourite. I suppose it was during the last year of the War that my father took me down to watch the military testing the lastest amphibian vehicles in preparation for the Invasion. It was while crossing the park, again with my father, that I saw and heard the final throb of a V2 rockets. I also remember walking down South Road to see the miles and miles of vehicles lining up along the London Road as they waited for the invasion order.
In the 50s I belonged to the Girl's Guildry and every Friday evening, in the summer, we would play a stoolball match against another G.G. company. On a Wednesday evening friends and I would go and watch the bicycle races in the Cricket ground.
In the 60s my father played bowls in Preston Park and I would spend many hours watching his team.
Whenever we return to Brighton my husband and I always take a sentimental walk through the rose garden, the park and the Cricket Ground, like everything else time has wrought changes but the memories linger on.

By Diana Anstead (25/05/2009)