New Strawberry Field rose garden honours legendary Sir George and Lady Judy Martin

A beautiful new rose garden has been officially unveiled at The Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field, dedicated to the memory of legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin CBE, and his wife, Lady Judy Martin.

The Sir George and Lady Judy Martin Rose Garden is the very first public tribute of its kind to honour the iconic music producer. At the heart of the space is a curved brick wall featuring an engraved Portland stone celebrating his historic career, surrounded by 30 discs marking the UK No.1 singles he produced for era-defining artists like the Beatles, Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Elton John.

As a patron of the charity, Lady Martin wanted to establish a peaceful sanctuary for reflection, giving people a place to sit and look out toward the famous Strawberry Field gates while surrounded by her favourite flowers. The roses were specifically chosen for their vibrant colours and rich fragrance so that the area can be thoroughly enjoyed by all visitors, including those with limited sight. 

Sourced from David Austin Roses in Lady Judy’s favourite shades of red and pink, many of the flowers were a personal gift from her before her death in 2023. Spanning an accessible 95 square meters, the tranquil space features a water feature, a circular raised rose bed, and seating areas, with visitors entering through decorative gates painted by pop artist James Wilkinson.

The garden was officially opened on Saturday, 27 June by the couple’s children, Giles Martin and Lucie Kitchener. The opening event was attended by several notable guests, including John Lennon’s sister and honorary president of Strawberry Field, Julia Baird, Sir Paul McCartney’s younger brother, Mike McCartney, and Lady Ann Dodd. The rose garden was generously donated by Cliff Cooper, CEO of Orange Amps and a patron of Strawberry Field, who also gifted the site’s Sgt. Pepper-inspired bandstand in 2023. Sharing his thoughts on the tribute.

He said:

“As a patron of Strawberry Field, I’m honoured to support this tribute to Sir George and Lady Martin. Their impact on music and their dedication to charitable causes align in harmony with the spirit of Strawberry Field.”

Alongside the opening, a brand-new display of exclusive photographs was revealed, shared publicly for the first time from the personal archives of the Martin family and Mike McCartney. Throughout the summer, visitors to Strawberry Field can enjoy these rare, fresh insights into the Martins’ love of roses and their special relationship to the site.

Expressing her gratitude, The Salvation Army’s Major Michelle Lovegrove-Huggins said:

“It is a pleasure to open the rose garden in memory of Sir George and his contribution to music and Lady Judy Martin. Lady Judy was a valued patron of The Salvation Army and Strawberry Field and supported our work empowering young people in the community into paid work. We look forward to welcoming visitors to reflect in the garden she helped to create, as she once imagined.”

Strawberry Field welcomes the public daily from 10am to 5pm, giving everyone a chance to experience the new garden. 

Any donations made at the site supports Steps to Work at Strawberry Field, a vital programme that helps young adults facing barriers to employment—including those who are neurodivergent or have learning differences—step into meaningful, paid work.

Find out more about Strawberry Field here.

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