Heartbroken widower learns memorial tree for late wife of 68 years will be removed after council error

A man who planted a memorial tree to remember his late wife of 68 years has been told it will be uprooted after it was placed on a protected ground.Distraught John Gibson, 87, wanted to honor the memory of his wife, Alexandra, who passed away in 2022 and was offered a tree to be planted at the bottom of Dumbarton Castle in Pier Park.However, two years later he has been told the tree, which John had decorated and placed a time capsule under, would have to be dug up and moved after it was realized the tree encroached on land owned by Historic Environment Scotland.John’s son David received a phone call last month with the ‘upsetting’ news.He said: “When my mother passed away, we applied for a bench and we were told by the council they don’t do that so they suggested a memorial tree.“They invited my dad down for the planting and he placed a time capsule there with photos of her and mementos.“My dad maintains it and because she loved her garden he has all her favorite flowers around it, snowdrops and daffodils.“He even bought a strimmer to keep the grass tidy around the tree.“It’s very upsetting, he still misses my mother terribly, they were together for 68 years.“We used to call them Batman and Robin or the deadly duo.If you’ve seen one, you’ve seen the other.

They were never apart.”The land that six memorial trees were built on in Pier Park is classed as an important monument and as such Historic Environment Scotland has said the trees would either need to apply for monument status or be moved.Although West Dunbartonshire Council has confirmed they will now move the trees to a nearby location outside the protected area, John says this will still be a decision he doesn’t understand.Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.

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