Memorial plaque pays homage to Bognor Regis gardener who made town a 'more beautiful place'

Joe died on March 4 2022, four days before his 37th birthday. Friends, family and colleagues gathered at Marine Park Gardens – where Joe was head gardener for 12 years – to pay their respects, honour his memory and witness the unveiling of the plaque.

A committed gardener, Joe was an instrumental part of earning the park’s prestigious Green Flag award, which recognises the best managed parks and green spaces in the UK and sets the international standard for park management.

It’s no wonder, then, that so many colleagues praised Joe’s professional integrity, personal kindness, and steadfast dedication to the role.

“(Joe) was a significant part of park life here and contributed significantly to Green Flag Award success,” said parks and greenspace manager James Jones-McFarland. “Everyone who had the pleasure of working with him at Arun District Council and his employers Tivoli will miss him very much. We are delighted and proud to be able to assist the family in providing this small tribute to Joe.”

Joe’s family also recognised his commitment to the community. Family friend John Wiltshire said: “This (plaque) is a permanent reminder of a young man who basically dedicated to his life to making Bognor a more beautiful place.

“He'd be out in all weathers, rain or shine. It could be pouring with rain and Joe would be there working on the gardens with a big smile and he was always ready with a few kind words. He was just a very lovely guy, very unassuming. He was not the kind of guy who wanted a lot of fuss and he would have been quite surprised by the number of people who turned up to honour him.”

For Joe’s mother Katrina, the gathering represented a way to say thank you to everyone who supported her through her son’s death. “We have two choices, you either go down or you come up,” she said. “My friends have got me through this, and I’ll never forget that.”

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