Photo: JEAN-CLAUDE COUTAUSSE / AFP / Getty Images
Last Friday, in the London suburb of Feltham, a real heartfelt tribute bloomed for one of music’s most iconic voices. Brian May, legendary guitarist of Queen, and Kashmira Bulsara, sister of the late Freddie Mercury, were on hand for the dedication of the Freddie Mercury Memorial Garden — a beautiful new space on Feltham Green that celebrates Freddie’s life and legacy.
The garden isn’t just a quiet place to reflect — it’s designed to be a symbol of community and remembrance. It features a commemorative plaque, a pair of cherry trees donated by Japanese fans, a rose bush supplied by Kashmira herself, and an eco-cabin designed to serve as a hub for local residents. Another plaque highlights Mercury’s connection to the area, where his family settled after fleeing political violence in Zanzibar in 1964.
During the ceremony, Brian May shared his thoughts on how Feltham has changed over the years:
"It's great to see such a community emerge in Feltham, because as I remember Feltham it wasn't like this in the old days. And now you have this lovely coming together of artists and craftsmen and it's so nice that they've honored Freddie in this way."
Kashmira Bulsara added:
"And it's great that people still remember my brother, which is lovely, isn't it?"
Brian also reflected on his own childhood in the area:
"It's very exciting to see this because when I was a kid here, I was in Walsham Road, and at the end of my road were cows in the field, and it was very pleasant. But as I grew up it became more and more populated but not very social. So I'm very happy to see that this is now a place where people come together and help each other."
It’s been almost 34 years since Freddie Mercury passed away from complications related to AIDS on November 24, 1991, at just 45 years old. Yet his voice, his spirit, and his impact continue to resonate around the globe a couple of generations later.
[Source: Premiere]