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Stoke Park’s Jubilee Oak Tree Gets Special Visit by Grandchildren of Those who Planted It
Published on: 28 Nov, 2023
Updated on: 28 Nov, 2023
History has repeated itself in an unusual way in relation to a tree and its plaque in Stoke Park, Guildford.
The new plaque by the Jubilee Oak in Stoke Park.
A few weeks ago a plaque identifying the Jubilee Oak was installed to replace the original plaque that disappeared over a decade ago.
The tree is in the park’s Jubilee Gardens and was planted when the gardens were created and opened on May 6, 1935, at the time of George V’s Silver Jubilee.
The then Mayor of Guildford, Alderman William Sheppard (with spade), and Cllr Arthur Williams (right) at the planting of the Jubilee Oak tree in Stoke Park in 1935.
Instead of the cutting of a ribbon to mark the opening of the garden, it was fitting that an oak sapling was planted by the Mayor of Guildford that year, Alderman William Sheppard.
In this picture, Cllr Arthur Williams is also on the right as Alderman William Sheppard plants the tree.
Also present was Cllr Arthur Williams, who was chairman of the Guildford Parks & Grounds Committee.
Moving on 88 years to today, Michael Williams, the grandson of Cllr Arthur Williams, visited the tree and met with Robert Sheppard, Stephen Sheppard and Valerie Bale, who are all grandchildren of Alderman William Sheppard.
Pictured from left at the Jubilee Oak are: Stephen Sheppard, Val Bale, Michael Williams and Robert Sheppard.
It just happens that Robert Sheppard has the ceremonial spade that was presented to Alderman Sheppard at the opening ceremony in 1935, and brought this along for the occasion and photographs.
The ceremonial spade that was presented to Alderman Sheppard at the opening ceremony of the Jubilee Gardens and tree planting in 1935.
But there’s more, as Michael Williams and Valerie Bale have known each other for several years; they are both Guildford Town Guides!
The discovery that their grandparents were also well acquainted back in the 1930s was quite a surprise.
It’s 2023 and a bit of a recreation of the planting of the Jubilee Oak.
The Jubilee Gardens is one of the intriguing aspects of the park. The model boating pond has an island reached by a picturesque arched bridge, the gardens are interspersed with ponds, streams and stepping stones in a Japanese style.
A large crowd gathered for the opening of Stoke Park’s Jubilee Gardens. This is a view of the boating lake on that day, May 6, 1935.
For families with young children, however, the paddling pond is usually the main attraction today.
A fine specimen: the Jubilee Oak today.
And the Jubilee Oak has become an impressive specimen, providing shade for the picnic area between the children’s playground and the paddling pool.
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Responses to Stoke Park’s Jubilee Oak Tree Gets Special Visit by Grandchildren of Those who Planted It
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Anthony C P Fisher
December 23, 2023 at 4:48 pm
Well done, many thanks for this wonderful insight regarding your lovely Jubilee Oak Tree.
It’s nice to be able to see the oak as a sapling and its start in life, then follow it through to see it today and get an idea of an oaks growth in almost 90 years
Nigel Lee
May 1, 2024 at 10:03 am
Was there a bridge over to the island when the boating pool originally opened?
Michael Hill
July 8, 2024 at 7:47 pm
On the day of the summer solstice this year I was passing Stoke Park from Nightingale Road. I thought as it was the longest day and 10pm I would look in the garden at the stones. The gate was closed at 8pm so I looked through the railings with an opening of the hedges. The light was still ok and I was still for a while just looking.
At the base of the Jubilee Oak tree was a very small deer-like animal licking the ground or eating something quite content. It was in an empty park, but I couldn’t quite focus on it or identify it but it was very strange. I had a good view and could focus on everything else but the little dear like creature was a mystery.
Thinking of the solstice and the time, I thought “Am I seeing things or is it something not meant to be fully seen?”
I tried to focus on it for about five minutes. It took my breath away at first, then I thought perhaps I’m not meant to be able to fully see it and turned away.
It was a very calming experience I thought I would share. I will not forget it. The body was like moving ringlets, but never clear enough to make it all out as one. Whatever it was I would say it was very happy there. I left feeling I had witnessed something very special.
Anthony Mallard
July 10, 2024 at 3:51 pm
I can’t answer Nigel Lee’s question back to the opening of the boating lake. I can say that when I first visited in 1954, some 70 years ago, with my mother’s cousin, to sail my toy yacht, the bridge was there. It was great fun and quite an adventure for a small child, to run round the pond and on to the island, where we sometimes used to picnic.
I used to get quite worried when the wind dropped and the yacht was becalmed. Little did I know that the water was very shallow and if all else failed the yacht could be recovered. The Lake and its surrounding gardens was always very well managed and so it is today by the borough’s gardening team and I thank them.