Telford garden which honours two youngsters is unveiled

Members of Ironbridge and Severn Gorge Lions have transformed a patch of land in Haybridge Road, Hadley, in honour of disabled youngster Rosie Turner, 17, from Hadley.

A bench has also been put up within the garden in memory of Jayden-Lee McIvor, who died after he was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing on the road in 2013.

The idea was the brainchild of Julie Duhra, who runs Jules' Convenience Store in Haybridge Road.

Rosie and her mum, Brenda, were at the unveiling of the garden on Saturday, including a plaque with Rosie's name, and said it was an amazing honour for them.

Mrs Turner said: "Julie has done fundraising for us before when Rosie was 13.

"She raised money for us to be able to buy her a beach wheelchair and she does lots of the community. It is an honour to think after we're gone there will be something in her name forever."

Nine-year-old Jayden, from Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, died at the scene of the incident after suffering a heart attack.

The then 19-year-old driver, Raja Khan, admitted a charge of dangerous driving at Shrewsbury Crown Court in 2014 and was ordered to serve three years in a young offenders' institution and disqualified from driving for five years.

The Ironbridge and Severn Gorge Lions had spent two years trying to raise money for the memorial garden after Julie approached them for help.

Having finally secured a grant of £1,000 from Veolia, the Lions Club then called on former club member and landscape gardener David Wassall to design a scheme. The memorial will be called Rosie's Garden and has some trees, bulbs and shrubs, and a bench where people can sit.

John Marsh, president of the Ironbridge Lions, said: "The initial idea was to make it for Jayden-Lee McIvor. But Julie said she also wanted to do it for Rosie.

"The final thing that made it possible was the Veolia Grant, it allowed us to do everything we wanted. Julie does a lot for us and asked if we would help her, so we committed to do it but the Veolia Grant was the icing on the cake. We have had a lot of help and support from local residents."

On Saturday, Lions and locals assembled to see the unveiling of a plaque celebrating the garden while Julie also ran a Macmillan Big Coffee Morning to raise money for the cancer charity at the same time.

Mrs Duhra is also set to run the Birmingham Half Marathon on October 16 for Severn Hospice and said half the money raised will go towards that. She said: "It has been lovely. We've had a fantastic turnout."

The event was also attended by David Palmer from GKN Sankey, who, along with colleagues, built a giant wheel to be put in the display.