THE Peace Garden in the grounds of the Quaker Meeting House in Bradford on Avon, which was built including a peace pole, was first designed in 2005.

Weather had faded the German and Japanese scripts reading 'May peace prevail on earth’ and it was decided to replace them with Arabic and Hebrew inscriptions to join the French and English versions.

A small rededication ceremony was held after a meeting for worship. Alex Kay, the Deputy Mayor represented Bradford on Avon Town Council; Shazuli Iqbel represented the Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre; Farzana and David Saker the Trowbridge Mosque; Vivienne Kynaston the French Twinning Association and Iris Segal and Sulia Rose the Progressive Reformed Synagogue in Bristol, as they lived locally.

Alan Pleydell welcomed the visitors and spoke about the importance of the peace movement and the symbolism of the pole in a multi-cultural society and invited the guests to say a few words.

In Alex Kay’s first public appearance in her role, she said: "Community cohesion is so important; many more similar small gatherings have the potential to become a transforming force."

Shazuli said he very much appreciated the invitation to take part in such an event and Iris said how working with Farzana giving talks to schools and police recruits, through the West Wilts Multi Faith Forum, had increased her cultural and faith understanding. Vivienne spoke of the link with town twinning, which, like the peace pole movement, was started after the war, and of the importance of such symbols in today’s political climate. Judith Hammond, a Bradford Churches Together committee member, closed by quoting from the vision of George Fox, the founder of Quakerism, of seeing an ocean of darkness and death ….but covered by an infinite ocean of light and love.

Quakers and guests then enjoyed a vegetarian shared lunch in the Meeting House.