THE trustees of a park in Wantage which commemorates the former Poet Laureate and town resident Sir John Betjeman were delighted to receive a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help expand their activities.

The Betjeman Millennium Park was bought in 1997 by the Letcombe Brook Charitable Trust, to commemorate both the Millennium and Sir John.

The popular journalist, writer and poet lived at The Mead in the town with his wife Penelope and their children, Paul and Candida, for 21 years.

The £50,000 grant will pay for: l Three information boards – the first about Sir John’s life and works; the second incorporating aspects of wildlife reflected in his poetry, and the third will be themed on “A Sense of Place”, about the importance of the protection, preservation and conservation of buildings l An education project involving local schools with a series of open days and three specially-wrtten drama productions will be held l A website about the park will be set up and teaching packs for schools compiled.

The project came about in response to numerous requests to the trustees for information about the park’s origins and Sir John.

Trust chairman Ralph Cobham said: “Both the trustees and many local people involved are delighted by the HLF support.

“This project will benefit many hundreds of people, including Wantage residents, members of local interest groups, visitors to the town and local school staff and pupils.

“The grant will help us both to grow and sustain the park’s appeal.”

The 1.25-acre park is adjacent to the town’s Letcombe Brook, and is within walking distance of Wantage Market Place.

It already has a poetry trail with six stones inscribed with Sir John’s work, created by Ducklington sculptor Alec Peever.

Mr Cobham added: “This is very much a community and participative project.”

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