Cumbernauld Peace Garden statue unveiled

The sculpture, of a dove bearing an olive branch, was gifted to the park by its creator John Colquhoun and his wife Ann, was unveiled by North Lanarkshire Council’s chief executive Gavin Whitefield.

Bobby Johnstone of Cumbernauld Environmental Society presided at the ceremony and thanked many groups and individuals which had supported the development of the peace garden and its various features.

Supporters include North Lanarkshire Council, Sanctuary Housing Cumbernauld, Ogilvie Homes, the Rotary Club of Cumbernauld, the local air cadet squadron, Cumbernauld Scouts, the Cumbernauld branch of the Royal British Legion, Cumbernauld Community Forum, the Airedale Terrier Club of Scotland who represented the dogs which have served in the Armed Forces and members of the Hope Garden.

During the ceremony, Miss European contestant Shannon McCluskey presented Mr Whitefield with a bouquet of flowers, while Ann Colquhoun was also presented with a gift of flowers.

Situated in Greenfaulds, Cumbernauld Community Memorial Peace Garden was developed by the local community led by Cumbernauld Environmental Society in order to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

It features a garden laid out in a formation based on a poppy, with each “petal” named for a major battle of the Great War.

The success of this award-winning project has also been recognised in the Scottish Parliament.