Play area opens in memory of Sarah-Jayne

Play area opens in memory of Sarah-Jayne - The newly refurbished play area at Cherry Orchard in Herne, Kent, was ceremoniously opened during the early part of March in honour of Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill.

Dedicated to the 32 year old British servicewoman, who was tragically killed in action in Iraq in May 2006, the rejuvenated area will provide much pleasure to the young people of Herne. Sadly, Sarah-Jayne was one of 5 service personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty when a Royal Navy Lynx helicopter was shot down in Basra.

Having moved to Herne with her parents when she was a child, Sarah-Jayne enjoyed playing at the Cherry Orchard recreation ground and it was here that her parents, Terry and Susan Poole who still live in the area, officially named the revamped site after their daughter.

Wicksteed Leisure, who won the contract which was jointly funded by Canterbury City Council and Broomfield Parish Council, has installed a variety of new and exciting playground equipment on the site enhancing the facilities for children of all ages in Sarah-Jayne’s childhood village. Refurbishment of existing equipment which had become tired and worn over the years was also carried out. Improvements to play areas have been made across the region as part of Canterbury City Council’s ongoing programme, recently boosted by a Big Lottery Fund grant of £285,000.

Although the park is now very different from the days when Sarah-Jayne played there, it is a fitting memorial to a brave soldier ~ the first British female soldier to have been killed in action in Iraq and it is already being well used and fully appreciated by local children.

Happy children clamber on Wicksteed's Tarzan Crossing at Sarah-Jayne's Memorial Play Area