Kids' Favourite Inspires Diana Memorial Park(Daily Record)
Di Fund's Pounds 20,00o Gift To Hookers(Daily Record)
News from Netty's Page
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Kids' Favourite Inspires Diana Memorial Park
PLANS for a children's playground dedicated to Princess Diana, based on the
classic children's story Peter Pan, were unveiled yesterday.
The adventure play area will replace the existing swings and climbing frames in
Kensington Gardens, close to Diana's former home in Kensington Palace.
The gardens, located between the fashionable London districts of Kensington and
Notting Hill, became the site of a massive floral tribute in the days following
her death.
The playground, which will include a pirate ship, willow tunnels and a mermaid
fountain, is part of a compromise deal between public demand for a lasting
memorial to the princess and local opposition to plans to create a garden in her
honour.
The Royal Parks Agency, who are overseeing the project, will also open a seven
mile route - the Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Walk - through the capital's
four main parks.
The play area will open to the public on July 1 - Diana's birthday.
Playground project manager Greg McErlean said the play area was a fitting
tribute to the princess, who loved children.
Speaking at the site of the pounds 1.3million project, he said: "If we can
create an environment where children from different backgrounds can mix, then
that has got to be a great memorial."
Consultant Adrian Wikeley says the innovative design will enable children with
different abilities to play together.
He said: "In most playgrounds, disabled and able-bodied children do not play on
the same equipment. But what we are doing is trying to get children of all
abilities to play together.
Mel Chantrey, who has designed the mermaid fountain, says that although the
playground is in memory of Diana, it has beeninspired by children.
He said: "Our brief was to entertain kids, not to create a memorial statue to
Diana.
"I've spoken to lots of three to 10-year-olds, the children who will be using
this play area, about what they would like in it."
The site, which will stretch in a triangle from the footpath by Orme Square Gate
to the cafe, was first established as a playground in 1909 in response to
requests from members of the public, including Peter Pan author J.M Barrie.
Kirriemuir-born Barrie lived locally and walked daily in the gardens, where he
set his second book, Peter Pan In Kensington
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Di Fund's Pounds 20,00o Gift To Hookers
PROSTITUTES in London's East End are to be given pounds 20,000 from the Diana,
Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, it was revealed yesterday.
Charity chiefs at the fund claim the money will encourage young prostitutes to
leave the streets by taking up education and training opportunities.
The cash was given to the YWCA's Maze Marigold Project in Bethnal Green, east
London in the latest round of pay-outs, totalling pounds 3.5m, by the fund.
Last night, a spokesman for the memorial fund, which was set up after Diana's
death with public donations, said the award was in keeping with the Princess's
work during her life.
"This grant reflects the passionate concern that Diana, Princess of Wales often
felt for young and vulnerable people. These young women who face enormous
difficulties in the transition from youth to adulthood will be given the
opportunity to build a brighter future."
"In this way, the Princess's work continues."
Last night, staff from the YWCA - which received pounds 204,000 for the Maze
Marigold plan and other nationwide projects - said they were thrilled.
The spokesman said: "The money will be used to support women who suffer abuse
and that includes women working as prostitutes.
"We provide opportunities for disadvantaged women to escape abuse, violence and
exploitation
"We try and provide exit strategies for these women.
"The work we do is all about helping women fulfill their potential.
"The Diana fund is about recognising that some women are vulnerable and helping
them."
The memorial fund defended the pay-out saying the YWCA was an organisation with
a 'long and established history'.
The fund was launched in 1998 as millions of pounds in public donations poured
in after the Princess's death.
Since then, the fund has raised pounds 110m from public donations, sales of Sir
Elton John's re-worked version of Candle in the Wind and other commercial sales.
Committed to helping victims of violence and conflict and people who have
suffered loss, the fund has donated more than pounds 25m to charity.
However, the charity has been dogged by controversy, which reached its height
when the Princess's former butler, Paul Burrell,left. Di Fund's Pounds 20,00o
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January 21st
Dom Diniz de Bragança will be baptised in the Sé of Oporto, Portugal, on
February 19th at
12:00 noon. His godparents will be his uncle Sebastião de Herédia and his
fathers niece
Princess Anna Cecilia de Bourbon.
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