News


Celebrating Unsung Local Hero – Beverley Calverley


December 2024

The MK Rose pillar 13 December 2009 Unsung Hero Day celebrates Doreen Adcock BEM being voted the Unsung Hero at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

This year on 13 December, we are taking the opportunity to celebrate some of our Unsung Local Heroes who have made a difference to the City and local communities.

Unsung Local Hero – Beverley Calverley

The Great Linford Parish Council informed the residents of Redhouse Park that section 106 money for local arts for their community had not been spent. Beverley Calverley, a resident of Redhouse Park, set about forming a committee, and created the ROCLA Art Project. She sought partnerships and undertook consultations with residents to develop an artist brief. Several artists were appointed to create a variety of public art in the community that reflects the nature, magic and location of the area; it is interactive and educational, focusing on wildlife. This initiative, led by Beverley, supported by volunteers is a legacy for its residents and the city of Milton Keynes.

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New Pillar dedication for 2025 announced


November 2024

Following a public call out for nominations for the next MK Rose Pillar, the Independent Pillar Panel met in October. Having considered all the nominations, the Panel was unanimous in choosing Milton Keynes’ City Status 20 May 2022 for the next Pillar dedication.

We had a fantastic response with 30 different nominations for dates significant to the lives of people or organisations associated with Milton Keynes. The Panel was thrilled by the number and variety of the nominations received and the level of interest shown by everyone who had taken time to make a nomination.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination recognising individuals and events that have shaped Milton Keynes. We will be looking at how we can recognise the significant dates of other nominations that were not successful on this occasion.

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New event – International Day of Peace


September 2024

Saturday 21 September is the International Day of Peace, also known as World Peace Day. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, the theme for 2024 is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace”. There will be a short ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Milton Keynes Rose, Campbell Park to mark the date with music, dance and readings, culminating in an opportunity to commit ourselves to peace. All are welcome.

Heritage Open Day – Film Screening to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MK Rose


September 2024

On Friday 13 September 2024 the Living Archive MK’s new documentary film The MK Rose: The first 10 years had its inaugural screening in the Sky Room, MK Gallery.

Our thanks go to Roger Kitchen, Living Archive MK, for creating this wonderful film which tells the story of the Milton Keynes Rose in its 10th Anniversary year. The Milton Keynes Rose is a spectacular public place in Central Milton Keynes, which is available to everyone for celebration, commemoration and contemplation. This film tells the story of its genesis, its design by artist Gordon Young, its construction and its adoption by the community of Milton Keynes as a place of special significance.

We were delighted that artist Gordon Young, and his team were able to join us in a packed audience for the screening. If you would like to see the film, please click here to see the film which is now available on YouTube.

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Nominations for our next Pillar now open


August 2024

The Milton Keynes Rose is marking it’s tenth year since opening and nominations for a new Pillar dedication unfurling more about MK’s story are being sought now. In the past a Pillar Panel has met every two years to look at new suggestions coming forward from the community to grow and expand what’s remembered or celebrated. You can find more details about how to nominate a Pillar by clicking here

An engraving will take place in 2025 with our next engraving planned for 2030. If you can think of a date significant in the lives of people or organisations associated with Milton Keynes past or present with reasons for your nomination please send this to miltonkeynesrose@gmail.com

The closing date for nominations is Monday 16th September 2024

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Join us to celebrate 10 years of the MK Rose


July 2024

On Sunday 7 July, from 12 noon to 2.30 p.m., we will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Milton Keynes Rose. The Rose was unveiled by the then Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Brian White, on 9 November 2013. Those of who were there will recall that it was wet ………very wet! So, we decided to hold our Anniversary Celebration when the weather was a bit warmer and (hopefully!) drier. We will have entertainment from Bradwell Silver Band, CrossRoots and Sheniah Asiamah. Donny and Mooey, from MK Dons, will be dropping by and the centre of the Rose will be decorated with a Crown of Flowers. There will be ice cream and tea/coffee available. And, of course, celebratory cakes!

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Join us to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the MK Rose


June 2024

As part of our 10th Anniversary Celebratory Year for the Milton Keynes Rose on Saturday 15 June from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at The Event Space, Milton Keynes Central Library, we are holding an archive collection event to gather and preserve memories and memorabilia related to the Milton Keynes Rose. Everyone is invited to come along and bring photographs, saved newspaper articles, postcards, any objects related to the Milton Keynes Rose or to share your memories of the Milton Keynes Rose and contribute to this important archival project.

The aim of the archive collection event is to support an archive that will be held by the Living Archive Milton Keynes, and we are delighted that Mark Niel, Milton Keynes’ Poet Laureate has written a poem for us titled The Story So Far – see below.

If you have memories and memorabilia relating to the Milton Keynes Rose, come along to help celebrate 10 years of the Milton Keynes Rose.

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Now open – Artist Commission for the MK Rose 10th Anniversary


May 2024

The MK Rose is 10 years old this year and to celebrate the Trust is thrilled to announce we will be commissioning an artist or creative practice to help us celebrate. This is an exciting opportunity to creatively record the history of the MK Rose, designed by internationally renowned artist Gordon Young. The Commission will reflect the ten year journey of the MK Rose from concept to the present day and create a lasting legacy. We are keen to hear from artists or creative practices with a track record of engaging communities and creatively interpreting heritage. For further details about the Commission, measurable outcomes, budget and evaluation please click here. The closing date for expressions of interest has been extended and will now close on 5pm Monday 27 May 2024.

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Celebrating William Cowper


April 2024

In celebration of William Cowper Day on 26 April, Tom Jones, Chairman of the Cowper & Newton Museum, Olney has provided the Milton Keynes Rose with a reading William Cowper’s poem “On a spaniel called Beau killing a young bird”. The poem was recorded specially for the Milton Keynes Rose which contains a pillar to mark William Cowper Day. To watch the video click here

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Mad March Local Giving Challenge


March 2024

Great news for supporters of the Milton Keynes Rose. Donations up to £500 to the Milton Keynes Rose Trust have the opportunity to be match funded in the Milton Keynes Community Foundation Mad March Challenge . The challenge opens from 10am on Monday 18 March until 12pm on Sunday 31 March (or whenever the pot runs out—whichever comes first!). All donations must be made through our Localgiving fundraising platform as only donations made via Localgiving will be eligible to be matched.

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International Women’s Day 2024


 March 2024

Friday 8 March 2024 is International Women’s Day and the theme for 2024 is Inspire Inclusion. The first International Women’s Day was held in March 1911. It is a day of collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all those committed to forging women’s equality.  To mark the event Women in Enterprise and MK Community Foundation, in collaboration with NatWest are holding an event in support of MKCF Women’s Fund and Inspire Inclusion.  The event will start at The Ridgeway Centre in the morning and move to the Milton Keynes Rose in the afternoon. 

To find out more click here 

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St David’s Day 2024


 March 2024

At 12 noon on Friday 1 March 2024, we will be celebrating St David’s Day, Patron Saint of Wales at the MK Rose. We are delighted to welcome, Linda Watkins who will sing the Welsh national anthem and lead an opportunity to learn to sing in Welsh. There will also be readings from Welsh poets read by students from Arts1 and traditional daffodils and Bara Brith will be distributed. 

This is a free event and all are welcome to join us to wish each other a ‘Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus’ – ‘Happy St David’s Day’ in Welsh.

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World Thinking Day 2024


 February 2024

Thursday, 22 February, is World Thinking Day – a day when 10 million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world connect to shout about the things that they do.

The theme this year is Our World, Our Peaceful Future, and there will be an event at the Milton Keynes Rose in Campbell Park at  10.30 a.m. to reflect on this theme. This is a free event and all are welcome to join us.

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Entries are now open for the MK Rose Corporate Pancake Race 2024


January 2024

The MK Rose’s annual Corporate Pancake Day Race is taking place at the MK Rose in Campbell Park on Shrove Tuesday, 13 February 2024, from 11.30am. Teams of four, from local businesses and organisations are invited to sign up and compete for the title of ‘MK Corporate Pancake Day Race Winner 2024’. This year we are also delighted to welcome the return of the Para-Pancake Race, following its successful debut last year.

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International Joke Day


1st July is International Joke Day and we have a pillar at the Milton Keynes Rose marking this date. Our friends at Milton Keynes Camphill Communities have created a video sharing some of their favourite jokes, enjoy!

New Pillar to be unveiled at the Milton Keynes Rose


May 2022

A new inscription will be unveiled at the Milton Keynes Rose in Campbell Park on Wednesday 25 May 2022.

25 May is the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, an event which was instrumental in the development and spread of the Black Lives Matter movement. Following a public consultation exercise in 2021, a new pillar inscription at the Rose will mark 25 May and Black Lives Matter.

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Calling MK Businesses and Organisations to take part in the MK Rose Pancake Race in 2022


December 2021

It’s back … calling MK businesses and organisations to take part in the Milton Keynes Rose Pancake Race.  Taking place on Shrove Tuesday, 1st March 2022, the Milton Keynes Rose Project Team are calling on local businesses and organisations to take on the challenge of a relay race in Campbell Park.  Teams of four are invited to bring their baton (a frying pan!) and a pancake and be ready to compete for the title of MK Rose Pancake Winners!

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Armistice Day


November 2021

Did you know that 10 years ago the first pillar was unveiled at the area now known as Milton Keynes Rose?  
On 11 November 2011 the then Mayor of Milton Keynes Alan Richards unveiled the very first pillar at the first Armistice Service to be held in Campbell Park.  The Armistice Day pillar commemorates the end of the First World War and the Milton Keynes Rose has hosted the service annually on this date since it’s completion in 2013.

We are pleased to share the poem written and performed at today’s service by MK Poet laureate Mark Niel.

Thundering Silence 

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Exciting things planned at Milton Keynes Rose this July


July 2021

Several events are taking place at the Milton Keynes Rose this July. First up is ‘Never Let Me Stop’ an outdoor dance performance presented by Jean Abreu Dance & Motus Youth Dance. A collaboration between local young dancers and international choreographer Jean Abreu. Everyone is welcome to see this collaborative performance on Saturday 10 July 2021 at 4pm.

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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh


9 April 2021

We are very saddened to hear the annoucement of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. Our thoughts are with Her Majesty The Queen and the Royal Family at this sad time.

We welcome your flower tributes to be laid at the Milton Keynes Rose in memorial.

Please remember gatherings are not allowed at this time, please lay your tribute but you must adhere to social distancing guidelines.

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Digital Commemoration for DB4 Day


31 December marks the day when the first DB4 manufactured by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited, based in Newport Pagnell was registered in 1958.

Earlier in 2020 the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Andrew Farncombe and the Mayor of MK Andrew Geary visited the site of Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell and both shared video messages to commemorate this important date in manufacturing history for the new city.

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New Pillar – World Refugee Day to be Unveiled


June 2020

World Refugee Day will be marked on Saturday 20th June 2020 with a new Pillar being unveiled at the Milton Keynes Rose. Refugees Welcome MK have held gatherings at the Milton Keynes Rose in previous years to mark the date. Now having sought dedication for a World Refugee Day Pillar, they are set to unveil it this weekend with the help of MK Mayor Councillor Andrew Geary and the Chair of Refugees Welcome MK, Revd Tim Norwood

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World Refugee Day Pillar Unveiled by Milton Keynes Mayor


Press Release from Refugees Welcome Milton Keynes

On Saturday 20th June 2020 a new commemorative pillar was unveiled at the Milton Keynes Rose to Celebrate World Refugee Day. It was unveiled by the Mayor, Councilor Andrew Geary. He said that he is proud to represent a diverse city that welcomes those in need.

The pillar has been installed with help from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation and the Cenotaph Trust.

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New Mayor Unveils Volunteers Pillar – June 2020


At a time when volunteers have been needed more than ever and have quite literally saved lives, Milton Keynes has honoured its volunteers who have worked not just in the last few weeks but for decades.

Kicking off Volunteers’ Week, The Mayor of Milton Keynes Cllr Andrew Geary unveiled a new Pillar at the Milton Keynes Rose to mark the annual week. The Pillar inscribed with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi says “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.

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New pillars to be engraved at the Milton Keynes Rose 


May 2020

Three new granite pillars will be engraved this week at the Milton Keynes Rose, this is made possible by a successful funding raising campaign and a grant from MK Community Foundation.

The new pillars were chosen by the pillar panel, chaired by Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lord-Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire. This panel meets every other year to decide a new pillar engraving from the submissions received from the community groups.

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