Marple Memorial Park Centenary
In 2022 Marple Memorial Park was 100 years old
The park was given to the Marple community during a day-long Dedication Ceremony and Historical Pageant on Saturday 22nd July 1922.
Commemorations during 2022 organised by Friends of Marple Memorial Park included a Marple School Gardens Project running throughout the summer; a new photographic mural on the former Bowling Pavilion that uses wonderful images from the Park's Dedication Ceremony in 1922; a commemorative booklet based on the same; an exhibition by Marple Local History Society in Marple Library; a Family Treasure Hunt in the park on Saturday 23 July and a Picnic in the Park concert featuring the Brass Bands of Marple on Sunday 24 July.
Please browse the following articles to learn more.
Friends of Marple Memorial Park: Community in the Park
At the start of 2022 Friends of the Park were a little surprised to realise that the promotional video filmed for us by volunteer Anne Frazer in 2016 was now 6 years old. With this being the park's centenary year we through it would be the perfect time for an update and asked Anne if she could film our events and activities throughout the year.
We are delighted to share part one of two videos filmed and edited by Anne to commemorate and record what we did during the park's centenary year of 2022.
Commemorative Booklet
Marple War Memorial Park was given to the Marple community during a day-long Dedication Ceremony and Historical Pageant on Saturday 22nd July 1922.
100 years later the park remains at the very heart of the Marple community and continues to benefit the health and well-being of local people, exactly as envisaged by the Carver and Barlow families when they donated the land in memory of their three lost sons and the other men of Marple who fell during the Great War; 1914 to 1918.
A limited edition booklet (100 copies) has been created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the park
100th Birthday Treasure Hunt: 23 July 2022
The 6th Family Treasure Hunt in Marple Memorial Park
Following a 2 year gap Friends of the Park relaunched their Family Treasure Hunt to celebrate and commemorate 100 years since the park was dedicated to the community.
The Treasure Hunt was aimed at 3 to 11 year-olds with parents, grandparents or carers to assist as needed. The children hunted for clues and letters to reveal the two word phrase "Historical Pageant" that would open the Treasure Chest for a share of the booty. 223 programmes were handed out to an estimated 300+ children (many shared and did it together) and almost 8kg of chocolate coins were distributed to successful Treasure Hunters who returned with the answer. Almost everyone got it, so we'll have to make it harder next year!
Against expectations after a two-year break due to the pandemic, and the current financial climate, the 2022 Family Treasure Hunt has shattered previous records with an amazing total of £3,957 raised for the park. This was made up of £1,268 takings on the day from raffle, cake sale, face-painting and donations (including another £70 from The Coffee Bean Dream), plus £2,532 of sponsorship and £157 of income from booklets and handmade cards. Our costs were £286, mainly made up of Face Painting, which was sponsored by Hawk Green CC, and Chocolate Coins (partly sponsored by Julian Wadden). The balance of £3,671 will be added to the £10k already ring-fenced for Outdoor Exercise Equipment in the park.
100 Years of Memorial Park at the Heart of our Community
An exhibition by Marple Local History Society & Marple Library
Brass Bands of MARPLE: 100th Birthday Picnic in the Park:
Sunday 24 July 2022 between 2pm and 4pm
The Marple Band and Hawk Green Band will be helping the community celebrate the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Marple Memorial Park on Sunday 24 July between 2pm and 4pm.
The event will be similar to the very successful 2018 concert in the park, which was blessed with glorious weather as you can see in the poster image below. We hope this event celebrating the park's centenary will have the benefit of the sunshine too but the Senior Citizens' Hall is booked just in case the British summer doesn't play ball.
Commemorating the Dedication of Marple Memorial Park on 22 July 1922
The artwork is now installed and can be viewed in close-up during Marple Carnival on 18 June 2022 and Friends of the Park Task Days.
Celebrating the Park's importance to our Community
Two local Primary Schools, All Saints' Marple and St. Mary's in Marple Bridge, have designed and built a school garden in Marple Memorial Park as part of the commemorations of the 100th Anniversary of the park being dedicated to the local community.
This exciting new project, funded by a “Magic Little Grant” from Localgiving and Postcode Neighbourhood Trust and an Environmental Challenge Award from Stockport Hydro, presents schools and pupils with an opportunity to gain invaluable, hands-on experience in the horticultural and gardening world. It's intended that the project will make a difference in Marple, bringing the community together after the devastating impact of the COVID pandemic and create a legacy for future projects involving more local schools.