It was a sad sight for many residents this weekend as a local memorial tree came crashing down on Highway 1 in Surrey.
The old tree, familiar to drivers in the Lower Mainland, was named after Charlie Perkins. In 1919, the WWI pilot planted some ivy around the tree and dedicated it as a memorial to friends who died during the war.
“Charlie was a funny old Englishman,” said his nephew Len Cook. “He was a pretty good guy.”
The tree had survived close calls twice before – once back in 1964 when it avoided being cut down when Highway 1 was being built, and again in the 70s when it endured after vandals set it on fire.
The tree was estimated to be about 300 years old.
“It was a part of history,” said Roy Knott, who used to take care of the memorial site. “And part of Charlie’s life and the family’s life. It’s very sad.”
It is believed that a vehicle hit the tree, causing it to fall. Crews spent Saturday night cutting it up and removing it from the road. The broken stump remains, as do several flagpoles and some memorial plaques.