FOREST of Dean Crematorium has honoured the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a tree in its Garden of Remembrance in tribute to the monarch.

The Forest’s longest-serving Funeral Director, Philip Blatchley, with his son, Philip Blatchley Jr, were invited to help plant the tree and unveil the commemorative plaque.

Mr Blatchley senior has been serving the local community for a remarkable 58 years, although he still has a way to go to match the Queen.

Forest of Dean Crematorium is part of Westerleigh Group, the UK’s largest independent owner and operator of crematoria and cemeteries, with 37 sites in England, Scotland and Wales, all set within beautifully-landscaped gardens of remembrance which provide pleasant, peaceful places for people to visit and reflect.

The ‘jubilee tree’ is a Cornus Kousa, also known as a Chinese Dogwood, which should provide an attractive mass of white and pink flowers through the summer followed by red strawberry-style fruits, before the leaves turn red and purple in the autumn.

Forest of Dean Crematorium assistant site manager Aaron Carter said: “One of the many initiatives launched to mark the jubilee has been the Queen’s Green Canopy.

“During her reign, the Queen has planted more than 1,500 trees so it seemed to be a fitting tribute for us to plant a tree in our grounds in her honour.

“And who better to help than someone who has served the community for many decades himself.

“Hopefully our tree will provide a fitting memorial that, like the Queen, will stand proud for many, many, years to come.”