Tuesday 22 May 2012

Unveiling of Memorial Plaque - Balgay Cemetery Poor Ground


At lunchtime today and along with representatives from Friends of Balgay, ward colleagues, the City Council's new Environment Convener, council staff and local residents, I had the honour of  attending a photo call event to mark the competition of a memorial to around 10 000 Dundee people buried in unmarked graves at Balgay Common Ground between 1870 and 2004.

Works have involved selecting and placing a large boulder in the chosen corner of the grounds and installing a simple memorial plaque to the boulder face.    Leading to the boulder, a short path was created with an edging made of reclaimed cassie stones. Around the path and surrounding the boulder, 4000 spring and summer bulbs have been planted.  

This project  could not have been carried out without the generous donation of a sum of money collected by Ben Malone, whose enthusiasm for making the project happen made it all possible.    It was good to see Ben's tremendous enthusiasm, fundraising and hard work recognised at today's event.

Under construction some weeks ago

Detail of wording on the plaque

Ben Malone (left) with Environment Convener Cllr Craig Melville unveiling the Memorial Plaque