We are not the first Friends Group to support Valley Gardens. In 1986, the Sun Pavilion and Colonnades were in disrepair and under threat. A group of friends, lead by Anne Smith, joined together to save them and to prevent the building of a car park on Garden land. Their efforts spanned 12 years and included help from James Herriot, David Bellamy, and Geoffrey Smith among many others and culminated in the grand re-opening of the Sun Pavilion by the Queen in Dec 1998.
The history of this group is well documented in the press coverage of the time. The article below, by Malcolm Neesam from the Harrogate Advertiser of 8th Oct 2010, summarises this history. (Click on the article for a larger version.)
If you would like to read more about the group’s struggle, click on the articles listed below which were kindly provided by Anne Smith.
- Valley Gardens Faces Shakeup ~1986
- It Must Be Made Safe ~1986
- James Herriot Joins Car Park Protestors - 5 May 86
- Car Park Plan for Valley Gardens - 3 Oct 86
- Bellamy in Valley Gardens Fight - 25 Nov 86
- Gardens Car Park Plan is Voted Out - 5 Dec 86
- Fight for Your Gardens Plea, page 1 - 13 Mar 87
- Fight for Your Gardens Plea, page 2- 13 Mar 87
- Digging in to Save the Perfect English Garden (top of the newspaper fold) - 18 Apr 87
- Digging in to Save the Perfect English Garden (bottom of the fold) - 18 Apr 87
- It's Tropical Yorks - 12 Jun 87
- Pavilion Appeal Welcomed - 17 Mar 93
- When the Sun Always Shone in the Gardens - 8 Dec 95 part 1
- When the Sun Always Shone in the Gardens - 8 Dec 95 part 2
- Our Joy at Return of Sun Pavilion ~Aug 98
- Invitation to Opening by the Queen - 10 Dec 98
- Dance With Delight - 11 Dec 98
- A job Well Done For the Sun Pavilion - 23 Oct 09
- Yorkshire Life - Feb 2010 page 67-68
- Yorkshire Life - Feb 2010 page 69