Hat Gardens is a newly developed Pocket Park which opened to the public only a week prior to my visit. Grassy verges step down towards an open section of the River Lea. Flower beds have been newly planted with perennial plants such as salvia, achillea, purple-top vervain, phlomis, roses, rosemary, lavender and St John’s Wort
The fondly remembered iconic fiberglass 1990s flying mall flamingos have been brought back and hoisted so as to appear to be flying over the river Lea.
The fate and whereabouts of the original 1975 fountain flamingos remains a mystery
I arrived at Hat Gardens to see the tail end of the big coronation movie lunch celebrating the coronation of King Charles III. The Lion King had just been screened and families had brought along picnic blankets and snacks. Deck chairs were laid out.
I struck up a conversation with Laura, Corey and Fiona as they seemed to be observing and absorbing the whole scene in a similar fashion to me. Laura and Corey work at Luton Council. I explained to them about what I was doing and where in Luton I had been sent to date. When I elaborated on the various animals I had been sent to encounter around Luton, Laura sent me to to see the chickens at Someries Castle.
Fiona then instructed me to get Hatters football memorabilia from the Luton Town FC Club Shop to put onto the montage.
Corey updated me on the state of play of Luton’s football team ‘the Hatters’ who are in the play-offs with Sunderland and Coventry, with a shot at entering the premier league for the first time ever – and the first time they’re back playing in the First Division since they were relegated in 1991/92. I also learned they’re arch-rivals of Watford.
Should they overcome Sunderland and Coventry City they’ll become the only club to ever complete the journey from the non-league, fifth-tier, Football Conference to the Premier League.
I noted the name ‘Hatters’ and Hat Gardens in the Hat District and enquired whether any hat making still happens in Luton and Corey told me that there are still a few manufacturers left. I discovered that Walter Wright Hat Factory on Albion Road still makes felt hats, worn by royalty and celebrities, and there remains in Luton the UK’s last surviving hat blocker manufacturing company – Boon and Lane Limited, the Panama Hat Company still manufactures straw hats and there are further hat makers such as Ken Peirson & Son and the hat trimmings businesses Randall Ribbons.
*** update *** I attended the Luton Town FC Club Shop on 27 May 23, the day Luton played Coventry in Wembley for a spot in the premier league. Luton’s Hatters later went on to triumph in a tense match which went to penalties!
For the montage I obtained Luton Town 3-Pack Air Fresheners.
Artrospektive 