Farm named in memory of councillor

Buy photos » Don’s wife Maureen Lawley formally opens ‘Lawley’s Land’. (s)

A LOCAL farm created and used by Festival Housing tenants has been named in memory of respected former Spa councillor Don Lawley.

The late councillor and community champion’s widow Coun Maureen Lawley, travelled to the farm land at Top Barn in Worcester to officially open and name Lawley’s Land.

The farm has been named in honour of Mr Lawley who passed away at the end of last year after a courageous battle against

illness.

Don Lawley was the first chairman of Spa Housing Association and served Wychavon District Council between 1969 until his death in 2011 with only a short break between 1995 and 1999. He was Droitwich mayor four times, and consort to his wife

during her two mayoral terms.

Cutting the ribbon on the land Coun Lawley said: “I am very proud to be launching this lovely project. Don loved his garden and he would’ve enjoyed seeing all of your hard work in progress.

“I look forward to coming back and seeing how your growing is getting on,” she added.

Lawley’s Land has been created and funded by Festival Housing for tenants of the housing association.

Local people have been encouraged to apply for a piece of land on the farm and have been provided with transport, training and land so they can gather skills in order to grow vegetables, fruit or flowers.

Clare Huyton, Executive Director at Festival Housing said: “We are amazingly proud of our tenants who have worked so hard to get Lawley’s Land up and running.

“We wanted to name the farm after our dear friend and colleague Don who also put so much time and energy in to the development of Festival Housing from its days as Spa Housing Association.

“We hope this project will continue to flourish through the winter and that more tenants will join us in making Lawley’s Land a success.

“We have been really very impressed by the team work and resilience our tenants have shown on this project, it hasn’t been the easiest weather to grow vegetables in,” she added.

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