Published on: Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Staff at Abellio Greater Anglia’s Joint Signing On Point (JSOP) in Norwich will come together on Wednesday to officially open a garden that they have created in memory of colleague, Robert Hall.
Abellio Greater Anglia staff have dedicated hours of volunteer work to transform wasteland behind the JSOP into a peaceful and attractive garden with large areas of flowers, a pergola and covered bench area as a memorial to a their much loved and respected colleague and friend.
Robert, known as Bobby, passed away in May 2011 after being involved in a car accident while he was on his way to work. As a long standing member of staff of more than 40 years, the shock and sadness was profound and prompted his many friends and colleagues, including drivers Paul Brock and Lee Warnes and conductors Kelly Seaman and Christine Cliff, to form a committee to progress the idea of using the wasteland behind the JSOP to create a garden in his memory.
Materials for the garden have been funded by Abellio Greater Anglia, fundraising events and donations from local businesses such as Mervyn Lambert Co, Patrick Thompson Wood Yard of Norwich, British Sugar, Network Rail, landscape gardener, Danny McCleod, and maintenance contractor, Wates Living Space.
Colleagues have participated in a series of volunteer days to carry out all the manual work such as clearing the ground, digging, planting and weeding.
The garden will be officially opened by Bobby’s family on Wednesday 20th August at 2.30pm.
Bobby’s friend and colleague, driver, Lee Warnes, said, “After months of hard work and the generosity of so many colleagues who gave up their time to dig and plant, and the businesses who donated funds and materials, the result is a wonderful garden area for use by all employees and a fitting tribute to a colleague who we all miss greatly. I would like to say a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made the memorial garden possible.”