TREE PLANTING AT PENWORTHAM

The year 2006 is the 160th anniversary of the death of John Ainsworth Horrocks who died on September 23rd 1846 at Penwortham. Horrocks, settler and explorer was only 28 years old when he died after an horrific shooting injury sustained when on an exploring journey north of Port Augusta. With the help of his fellow explorers, Horrocks returned slowly to his home at Penwortham village. He only survived a few days and was buried in his own church yard at Penwortham. Horrocks' grief stricken manservant and friend, John Green, 'planted a white hawthorn sapling, grown from the english berries, over his grave.' (Margaret Burscough: 'The Horrockses, cotton kings of Preston').

In memory of this loving gesture, to honour Horrocks and to replace the original tree, on Sunday July 9th 2006, the congregation of the Church of St. Mark, together with members of the Mount Horrocks Historical Society, gathered for the 11am service and then all walked down to the grave of John Horrocks for the planting of the tree, a brief explanation by Joey Duncan and a closing prayer from Archdeacon Mark Thomas: after which, we all retreated to the warmth of Joey Duncan's cottage, for local wine, soup and damper provided by St Mark's congregation.

Later in the afternoon an identical tree was planted at John Horrocks cottage, otherwise known as Green's cottage on the Main North Road at Penwortham.

These hawthorns are grafted trees with non invasive root systems, they do not sucker and they grow to a limited height, so the knowledge of 2006 has been taken into account while honouring the sentiments of 1846.