A Visit to the Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede (23 April 2024)
By Andrea Buttle
When I sign up to a SGT visit, I know I will be treated to a special insight into the place being visited. Annabel Downs, who led this visit, had done her homework. She weaved a rich tale of people, committees and politics that led to Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe being given the design brief. Jellicoe took inspiration from a visit to Japan and came up with a very simple and elegant tribute to President John F Kennedy. The fact that he designed the memorial whilst in Japan, was one of those little facts that would have been lost to me if I had visited Runnymede alone.
The approach to the Memorial designed by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe. The paving sets to the right were a later addition due to visitor traffic. Photo credit: S Sticpewich
The design is the first element, but, as we all know, the maintenance of a space is just as important. Annabel went on to talk about how additional paving had to be introduced around the memorial because no one had anticipated the number of visitors that came initially. Now 60 years after Kennedy’s assassination, the memorial is a quiet side track off the path to the Magna Carta memorial. It deserves more visitors to appreciate Jelliocoe’s design genius.
View of the surrounding countryside towards the River Thames from the seats and terrace. Photo credit: S Sticpewich
After visiting the site, we retired to the National Trust tearoom for a warming brew and Annabel continued to answer questions from her renegade audience. She recommended a visit in the summer when the flora changes and the knapweed is in full flower. Perhaps I will return and extend my visit to include the nearby Air Force Memorial just up the hill, which is also beautifully designed.