A SPECIAL ‘Peace Tree’ has been planted at the museum dedicated to the memory of Violette Szabó, the Anglo/French special agent.

The Davidia involucrata was planted to commemorate VE Day and 80 years of peace since the end of the Second World War, as well as Violette ,who often stayed at her uncle’s house in Wormelow, where the museum is based, and gave her life for the cause of freedom.

The tree – known as a Peace tree or the handkerchief tree – was donated by Barrie Wellington of Elmcroft, Newent, and has large, white bracts that drop gently from the branches.

Mr Wellington explained that he discovered a rare Davidaia tree growing locally and acquired some of its seeds that were lying on the ground.

Barrie, who retired from his business running a tree nursery, took the seeds home, but found it took two years for them to germinate and then a further eight years for it to become established before it could be transplanted.

Following a visit to the museum in Wormelow last August, Mr Wellington offered the tree to Rosemary Rigby, Violette Szabó’s aunt, and told her that the tree had gained its common name due to its white leaves.

During the spring, the tree was transplanted to the grounds of the museum and dedicated on Sunday, May 10, at a special ceremony.

Rev Mark Johnson said that reaching the 80th anniversary of VE Day, there are not so many people left who remember things from that era

“We need to treasure those memories to make sure they are recorded for posterity so that future generations have a living history that continues,” he added.

“As Rosemary was reflecting, VE Day meant that we no longer had to worry about being told to put out that light. It is time to give thanks for the past 80 years and reflect on what this means today.”

The Last Post was then played, followed by a two-minute silence before the Peace tree was unveiled by the mayor of Hereford, Councillor Kevin Tillett.

Having looked around the museum, Cllr Tillett observed that it was obvious that Violette was born for adventure and said: “It struck me during the period of silence that it was only a few months ago that we marked Violette’s execution.

“The cruel irony is that she died so close to the end of the war. Those few months could have made a very big difference.

“It’s been a week full of remembering. It’s already been pointed out here today, that this is the last big anniversary for the remaining veterans who served.

“I grew up with war time stories. It is our duty to keep these memories alive.

“Children are taught the big story, but we as the children, and grandchildren of veterans and those who lived through the war, whether it be from the front, or domestically at home have got to pass these war time era stories to the next generation.

“The museum here in Wormelow is a fantastic example of that.”