Association Of Jewish Refugees 80 Trees for 80 Years
On the 27th of January, Holocaust Memorial Day, a group of representatives gathered to plant two oak trees (Quercus robur) to commemorate being chosen as a living memorial to the Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR). The ceremony was part of “80 Years for 80 Trees” the two trees that were planted were sponsored by Milena Grenfell-Baines and Ellen Petzal. The Mayor, Jim Davies, gave a moving speech that explained in more depth the context of the ceremony.
The mayor commented in his speech. “Each tree celebrates ‘the remarkable impact that has been made by Jewish refugees to every walk of British life. The literary critic George Steiner once said, “When you come to a house as a guest, you must try and leave the house a little nicer than you found it” Despite – or perhaps because of – the massive traumas the refugees had experienced they were determined to build a new and better life for themselves. They embraced all opportunities in their new homeland and in doing so have made a lasting impression across the fabric of British society – in industry, business, culture, media, the arts, and medical science, to name but a few.
Oak trees are Britain’s national trees, and they support more other forms of natural world life than other trees. But like lots of things in our environment, they are coming under threat and need our protection. So this tree is not just a way of remembering the Jewish refugees, it also helps them to give something back to the country which became their home. We are delighted that this tree is also being counted as part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Green Canopy – the special tree planting project which marks this year’s Platinum Jubilee. We promise to care for it well to ensure that Llanwrtyd residents can enjoy it for generations to come”.