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29
Mar 2022
MP's memorial tree at RAF Menwith Hill saved
A memorial tree at RAF Menwith Hill that was under threat of removal has been saved and replanted.
The tree was originally planted in 1994 in memory of Bob Cryer, who was the Labour MP for Bradford South. He was a vocal campaigner for transparency at the base and died in a car accident in 1994.
Mr Cryer secured a debate in parliament a few months before he died when he claimed the aim of the base was to “assert and retain United States supremacy”.
The Ministry of Defence, which owns the site, is building a new visitor centre, vehicle canopy and changes to the road junction on Menwith Hill Road.
However, this work involved removing the memorial tree that was replanted close to the site's main gate in 2002. It was planted alongside the public highway on land not owned by the MOD.
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Last year, the Stray Ferret spoke to the late MP's wife, Ann Cryer, who was the MP for Keighley from 1997 until 2010. She said she was "very upset" about the possible removal of the memorial tree.
But on Thursday, the MOD replanted the tree 100 metres away from its old location with work overseen by both an arboriculturist and an ecologist.
This means the tree should hopefully survive while plans to upgrade the entrance at the base can continue.
Bob Cryer's alder tree in its new location
Sqn Ldr Geoff Dickson, RAF Menwith Hill, said the MOD wanted to ensure the move was done in a way that was "sympathetic to the memory of Mr Cryer".
A second alder tree was also planted.
Sqn Ldr Dickson said:
The move was welcomed by Lindis Percy, co-founder of the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases.
Ms Percy said:
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