The only school in Derby to have official royal status has been chosen as one of just 350 recipients of a gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
Pupils from Royal School for the Deaf Derby, in Ashbourne Road, were given a tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, after being nominated by Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Elizabeth Fothergill.
The tree had originally been one of the 350 British native trees that featured in the `Tree of Trees’ which stood in front of Buckingham Palace at the height of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and was seen on TV by more than one billion people worldwide.
The school, which received its royal status from Queen Victoria during her Diamond Platinum celebrations in 1897, has planted the tree at Shipley Country Park, where a coppice is being created in memory of Her Majesty.
The school planted the tree at Shipley Country Park.
It was planted by pupils from the school at a ceremony attended by His Majesty’s Vice-Lord Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson, chief executive of The Queen’s Green Canopy Colonel Dan Rex, Lead for The Queen’s Green Canopy in Derbyshire Brell Ewart DL and Derbyshire County Council leader Councillor Barry Lewis.
Only five other organisations in the county received a tree dedicated to them, which were all the hornbeam variety, which is known to prosper and thrive in Derbyshire’s climate and soil.
An additional tree, a copper beech, was planted in the centre of the new coppice, bring the total to seven, each representing a decade of the Queen’s life.
Paul Burrows, headteacher at Royal School for the in Derby, said: “It is a true honour to have been one of just six organisations chosen to have a tree dedicated in memory of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
“Our school has a rich and regal heritage. It received its royal status when Queen Victoria bestowed the title on it as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
“And more recently, many staff and former pupils remember the late Queen’s visit in 1997 which was a very proud moment for the school.
“So, it feels extremely fitting that the school has played a part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. The tree also recognises the work of everyone at the school and the important status of the deaf community in Derbyshire.”
The other Derbyshire recipients of a dedicated tree are Alfreton Park School, Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, Derbyshire County Council Children’s Homes, Derbyshire Federation of Women’s Institutes and Landmarks Specialist College, in Eckington
His Majesty’s Vice-Lord Lieutenant Colonel John Wilson OBE DL said: “The Platinum Jubilee was very much celebrated across Derbyshire and tree planting for the Queen’s Green Canopy has been a very important part of those celebrations. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Coppice provides a great focal point for the people of Derbyshire; it is a permanent reminder of the unique Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and of the life and incredible untiring service to us all by Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.”
Chief Executive of The Queen’s Green Canopy Colonel Dan Rex MVO said: “We are proud to unveil this nationwide network of organisations chosen to become custodians of these special trees in Her Majesty’s name. In recognition of the positive impact that they have on their communities, the groups chosen represent the very best of Britain.
“The Queen’s Green Canopy hopes the trees will serve as an inspiration for tree planting within communities and to encourage care for the trees which already exist as part of our nation’s stunning landscape.”
