New park named in honour of Charles Talbot MBE
News release issued:
The newly created park and green space in Worcester Street Kidderminster is to be named Talbot Park in celebration of the town’s champion who died in 2019.
Councillors have dedicated the space – to be launched and open to the public in the Spring - to community spirited Charles Talbot MBE as a mark of affection and respect for someone who worked tirelessly in Kidderminster and Wyre Forest public life for almost 60 years.
The park and open space which connects Worcester Street with Bromsgrove Street has been created and developed with funding from the government’s Future High Streets Fund and is a key part of the Council’s adopted vision for the town: ‘Kidderminster 2040’.
Councillor Dan Morehead, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Planning and the Green Agenda said:
“It is right and fitting that we should name this newly regenerated space for an influential local person who dedicated his life to putting Kidderminster on the map and improving the lives of local people.”
Councillor Marcus Hart, Leader of Wyre Forest District Council said:
“Charles served on Wyre Forest District Council for three years between 1976 and 1979 and was awarded the MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours in 2017 for services to the community.
“It’s significant that the new park directly links up the youth centre in Bromsgrove Street which Charles was instrumental in building when he was Mayor of Kidderminster in 1965/66. He was a founding trustee until his death.
“I’m sure Charles would be very proud to see that we are keeping his memory alive by naming the park after him. We look forward to the formal launch of the park in the spring when the planting is fully completed.”
Mrs Jean Talbot, Charles’s widow said:
'We feel honoured that Charles’s life-long contribution and dedication to Kidderminster is being recognised in this way.
"His many achievements include founding the Youth Centre (for which he received an MBE), a founder Trustee of the Museum of Carpet, the campaign to create a Town Council for Kidderminster and his long involvement with twinning between Kidderminster and Husum. The family has contributed to professional life and public service in Kidderminster with seven mayors spanning seven generations.
"We hope this park, this green space planted with trees, providing a new link through the centre of the town, will become a place of rest and relaxation, enjoyed by all for many generations to come.”
For more information on Talbot Park, see our webpage and for wider regeneration projects in Wyre Forest, visit our EDR page.
