Dedicatory plaques installed at Helensburgh's Hermitage Park

A number of dedicatory bronze plaques were fixed to donated benches last week, marking memories of those who enjoyed passing through the park in yesteryear and displaying well wishes from others involved in the ongoing regeneration.

Volunteer group The Friends of Hermitage Park sold the benches to raise the £20,000 needed to secure the £2.3 million Heritage Lottery Parks for People funding for the project.

A Friends spokesperson said: “£20,000 was a lot of money to raise in quite a short timeframe but it was crucial that we did it as without the financial contribution of the Friends we would not have been able to secure the HLF funding grant.

“We are extremely grateful to everyone who purchased a bench and made such a significant contribution towards the restoration and rejuvenation of the park.

“We couldn’t have done it without the bench and tree donors and wish to thank them very much for their support, which is to the benefit of the whole community.”

Among those who have been honoured with a plaque so far is Gill Packard, late wife of the first chair of the Friends group, Chris.

The bench was donated in memory of Gill from her friends at Helensburgh Lunch Club, which she dedicated many years to, and a small gathering of her friends and husband Chris came along to mark the occasion.

The Friends spokesperson added: “Gill supported Chris during the early days of the Friends before she passed away, and she often walked the family dogs in the park.

“It was a lovely gesture from her friends at the Lunch Club to remember her with a bench in a place she loved.”

One family who came from far and wide to see their plaque being attached to their bench was the Hughes family.

Erica, whose family is originally from Nepal and had relatives from Washington DC and Geneva attend the ceremony, said: “The first name inscribed on my plaque is James Hughes, who was my late father-in-law.

“He was from Baillieston but would come to Helensburgh for his holidays when he was younger and visit his auntie who lived in the Churchill estate.

“He would also bring my husband over when he was a child to Helensburgh to go fishing.

“The other name on the plaque is Padma Rai who was my mother. She always loved seeing Scotland – Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond, and likened it to Nepal - Lake Pokhara and the Himalayan mountains, where we originated from.

“In Nepal, she was a school teacher so I wanted a quote that was child friendly and filled with warmth, that was the reason I picked the quote from Winnie the Pooh: “How do you spell love? You don’t spell it, you feel it.”

Erica added: “This park has given my family so much pleasure. It has enabled my kids to meet their friends and become active early on in their lives.

“That active lifestyle has put them in good stead now, as my son Zac plays for Rangers Football Club and my daughter is a Scottish elite gymnast at Sapphire Gymnastic Club and represents Scotland.

“I am so glad that I was able to donate to The Friends of Hermitage Park as they have done a splendid job in bidding for the lottery funding and organising the redevelopment of the park, which was much needed in my opinion.

“It’s great that we have people like the Friends who are giving up their free time and looking after the welfare of our community.

“Although I am unable to give my time to them as I have a full time job and am also running the kids about to their respective clubs, I do appreciate all the hard work that those people have done to make Hermitage Park better.

“My kids are loving all the new equipment in the park and I can’t wait to try out the new café.”

The trees that have been donated so far will be planted in the autumn.

If you would like to donate a tree or bench to the park and help the Friends continue their work, please contact Friends chair Fiona Baker at fionabakerrhu@gmail.com.