What was once a neglected patch of York land is now a vibrant community spaced filled with flowers, creativity, and life – all thanks to one very special volunteer.
John Gwilliams gave up countless hours to revitalise the garden behind Acomb Explore Library, turning it into a welcoming sanctuary for local families and visitors.
Sadly John died suddenly in May last year, aged 76. Now his family are encouraging everyone to get involved in the special space he created.
When he retired from his job as a prison officer, John – a long-time Acomb resident and a keen gardener – set out to transform this neglected corner.
At the time, there were ongoing issues with youths vandalising the space.
As a proud former member of the armed forces, John always believed in doing his bit, and carried with him those values of service and community.
He hoped to turn it into somewhere more inviting – a peaceful sanctuary. Thanks to his dedication, flower beds, benches and herb gardens created exactly that.
It became a well-loved spot for families and library goers, and the antisocial behaviour decreased.
Explore York Libraries, which operates 15 libraries across the city, including York Explore on Acomb Front Street, has supported the continuation of the project.
Determined to honour John’s memory and continue his legacy, library staff launched a gardening club. Now, his family want more people to be a part of it.
John’s daughter, Judith Cunningham, and three of his grandchildren, Dean and Daniel Cunningham and Alex Gwilliams, spoke to YorkMix about the impact of his work.
“Once it was transformed it brought in a lot more families in, and the younger community too, which made people want to respect the area and from then, it grew,” Judith said.
A close-knit family, the grandchildren, along with Alex’s sister, Elena, often helped out during visits.
“Dad would do anything for anybody, and bringing his grandkids down to help was his way of showing them how to give back to the community.
“It was never a chore for the kids to come down and help, it was always something they all enjoyed. My Mum also used to come down and bake cakes for the staff here,” Judith explained.
Reflecting on their time spent with their grandad, Daniel recalled the difficult, yet rewarding, job of laying paving slabs over three days, while Dean shared memories of mowing the lawn, tidying, and clearing leaves.
Alex, who didn’t initially see himself as a gardener, said he grew to appreciate the experience.
“As I got older, I found it quite therapeutic. I can see why my grandad loved it, it’s calm, peaceful, and tangible,” he said.
Judith believes the values John instilled in his grandchildren have shaped their lives and the paths they’re on now.
Alex recently completed his A Levels and plans to study at King’s College London, Dean has joined the fire service, and Daniel has just completed his first year of college with ambitions to become a police officer.
Daniel and Dean have also continued John’s legacy through regular volunteering, including work with the scouts and RAMP (Richmondshire Area Motorcycle Project), which educates young people about motorbikes.
“We’ve always done a lot of volunteering which has probably all stemmed from this, I do it most Saturdays and Tuesdays,” Daniel said.
Judith added: “A lot of what these guys have has all been instilled from their grandad is the ability to want to work, to want to earn, to want to save, and to help each other out.
“They don’t just help friends, they help each other, all of them, if Elena was here, she’d be saying exactly the same thing.”
Although the family deeply feels the loss of John, the garden offers them and the community a space to reflect and remember.
“I hope that’s what children here get out of it, time to spend with their families and the opportunity to sit, have that free space, and be who they want to be,” Judith said. “That’s his legacy, he wanted kids to explore and to be themselves and to learn.”
John leaves his loving family, including his wife Carol, his children and their spouses Judith and Dean and John and Shirley, and his adored his grandchildren, DJ, Alex, Daniel and Elena.
The volunteer gardening club
The gardening club was established in 2024 in memory of John, with help from a start-up grant from Westfield Ward for equipment.
Not only is it a great social activity for the members, the gardeners are making a real contribution to the local community. One of the gardeners said, “Coming here brings me sunshine every week”.
To mark all he did for the area, there’s a lasting tribute to John with a memorial bench inscribed “John Gwilliams 1947 – 2024 who filled this place with flowers”.
Two local artists also decorated a storage container in the garden with themes inspired by John, including a reference to the regiment which John served with when he was in the armed forces.
The quirky designs bring a real pop of colour to the garden.
For more information on the library and the club, click here.
