HUNDREDS of visitors crowded into a quiet village to lend their support to a living memorial for a popular health chief who died from cancer last year.
Organisers of the event at Follifoot, near Harrogate, were "overwhelmed" by the support an open gardens event attracted on Sunday in memory Mark Kennedy, chief officer of Harrogate Community Health Council, who died aged 45.
He was a popular figure in the area because of his dedication to duty and the help he dispensed to countless people in his community health role.
Such was the popularity of the eight-garden event that stand-by parking arrangements had to be introduced, including a large field, to cope with the influx of visitors. Other makeshift parking areas were also used.
The gardens were opened to raise money in memory of Mr Kennedy to buy a lasting tribute in a project involving Harrogate Hospital and Community Friends along with villagers.
It is thought the open gardens have raised more than £1,000 and the friends hope to buy two beds for the Harrogate coronary care unit.
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