Above: Katherine (in short-sleeved blue t-shirt) waving at the camera as she cycles. All photos reprinted by kind permission of Martin Bond Photography.
Katherine Abell joined a team of cyclists to light up an ancient black pine during the King’s coronation concert.
Katherine was Research and Facilities Manager for the Abell group for over 17 years. She continued to help with administration as the group gradually wound down after Chris’ unexpected death in 2020, until she retired last year.
After retirement, Katherine, who has a green thumb, began volunteering at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
Below: The tree as it started to light up from the combined energy of the cyclists.
The Botanic Garden was chosen as one of ten sites to create light displays in a series of live sequences called ‘Lighting up the Nation’ which were shown during the King’s coronation concert on 7 May. For the Botanic Garden event, a team of students, garden staff and volunteers like Katherine rode 24 eco-bikes which powered 12,500 lights on the Garden’s Black Pine. The display highlighted the new King’s commitment to green energy and conservation.
Katherine says: “It was Chris who encouraged me to take up cycling on an electric bike as a form of exercise in view of my osteoarthritic knees! I followed up his suggestion only after he passed away, but it meant that when the email for ‘cyclists wanted’ arrived in my inbox, I was confident that I had the fitness to take part.”
The Pinus nigra, which is thought to be 175 years old was beautifully illuminated. The sequence was shown during Paloma Faith’s performance of Lullaby, and can be seen on YouTube.
Some of the other locations in the event were Newcastle’s Tyne Bridge and Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge, the Cornwall Eden Project and Edinburgh Princess Street Gardens.
Katherine says: “The Pinus nigra tree looked magnificent all lit up. I felt I was fortunate to be chosen to take part in the celebrations.”
Below: The magnificent Black Pine and cyclists getting ready to begin.
All photos reprinted by kind permission of Martin Bond Photography.