December 6th 2022

A tree from Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Trees of Trees sculpture has been planted at Stoke Mandeville Stadium today, the birthplace of the Paralympic Games, and home to a dedicated museum celebrating and preserving Paralympic heritage.

One of only three trees dedicated to the county of Buckinghamshire, the tree was awarded to the National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) for creating a song for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations which highlighted her support of the Paralympic Games.

Each of the 300 native British trees from Thomas Heatherwick’s sculpture, Trees of Trees, originally installed at Buckingham Palace this summer, has been gifted and distributed across the country to chosen organisations, crediting their hard work. The tree donated to NPHT is in recognition of its work and its project ‘Sing A Song for the Queen’s Jubilee’ in collaboration with Aylesbury based theatre group, ‘I Have A Voice Too!’ which works with adults with additional learning needs.

The project involved Director Sebastian Lister, and Paralympian and musician, Robin Surgeoner MBE who worked with the two organisations to create a piece of music and song, to celebrate the Queen, and other Royals’ contribution, to disability sport specifically the Commonwealth Games and the Paralympics.  

I Have A Voice Too! drama group, the Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council, Vicky Hope-Walker CEO of NPHT, and Countess Elizabeth Howe, His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.

CEO of the National Paralympic Heritage Trust, Victoria Hope-Walker said:

I Have A Voice Too! and the National Paralympic Heritage Trust are incredibly thankful to Countess Elizabeth Howe, His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and the Royal Palace for this donation, now planted at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, where the pot from the sculpture is also now displayed within the Ceremonies case. We are proud and privileged to have received this tree and pot from the Tree of Trees sculpture,  we shall cherish both as part of our collection, which recognises and highlights the ongoing support of the Royal family towards the Paralympic Games, from the birth of these Games in the 1940s to present day. We also thank WheelPower – British Wheelchair Sport, the National Health Service and Serco for the permission to plant the tree on this important site. We greatly value working with our community to celebrate local heritage.

The ‘Sing A Song for the Queens Platinum Jubilee’ song is available here.

 

The photo on the left is of the speeches at Stoke Mandeville Stadium and includes from left to right: Marie Biswell BSL Interpreter, Vicky Hope-Walker CEO of NPHT, Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council Dev Dhillon, Countess Elizabeth Howe, His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Diane Hands Founder of I Have A Voice Too! (Aylesbury based drama group for adults with learning disabilities) with a member from the group, and Nigel Purse Chairman of NPHT.

The photo on the right next to the planting of the tree is Countess Elizabeth Howe, His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, and Diane Hands founder of I Have A Voice Too!