Thomas MagillReporter , Feltham
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Freddie Mercury and Queen’s lead guitarist Brian May first met in Feltham, where they both lived
A memorial garden dedicated to the life of Queen singer Freddie Mercury has been unveiled in the west London town he once lived in.
Queen’s lead guitarist, Sir Brian May, and the late singer’s sister, Kashmira Bulsara, officially opened the garden in Feltham on Friday. It has been created as part of a council-led local regeneration plan.
The space includes a “green eco cabin”, which is to become a hub for the local community and events.
Sir Brian, who himself grew up in Feltham, told the BBC: “It’s so nice that they’ve honoured Freddie in this way, as a son of the village… we’re very proud.”
Sir Brian added that Feltham appeared to have changed for the better since his and Mercury’s time there in the 1960s.
“It’s great to see such a community emerge in Feltham, because as I remember it, it wasn’t like this in the old days and now you have this lovely coming together of artists and craftsmen.
“It’s very exciting to see this…I’m very happy that this is now a place where people come together and help each other.”
The cabin is to become a base for the Friends of Feltham Green volunteer community group, while also hosting activities such as gardening workshops, after-school clubs, exhibitions and community events, Hounslow Council says.
It is hoped the the facility, which was built on previously disused land, will build on the “strong sense of community” in the area.
Shantanu Rajawat, leader of Hounslow Council, said it was a “fantastic moment” for both Feltham and for Hounslow.
“Using the opportunities that present themselves in underused spaces as well as commemorating those that are famous and have lived here is really important and it really adds to that sense of civic identity… Freddie Mercury was such an intrinsic part of our recent heritage and it’s great that we can properly commemorate the fact that he lived in Feltham.”
Hounslow Council
Kashmira Bulsara advised on the flowers for the garden, which include a hybrid rose named after Freddie Mercury
Hounslow Council
The Friends of Feltham Green, a registered charity, will manage the Eco Cabin for community use
The project was funded by contributions from Hounslow Council’s Thriving Communities Fund, the mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund and A2Dominion.
Special hybrid roses bred in honour of the star sit beside a Sakura cherry tree that was bought following crowdfunding by 185 of Queen’s Japanese fans.
Hounslow Council
The council said the project had transformed a previously disused space into a “safe and vibrant” community area
The chair of the Friends of Feltham Green, Angela Parton, said the new cabin and memorial garden would be a “welcoming space” that would “radiate out positive waves” into the local community.