Seema Malhotra, the Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston, where Freddie Mercury lived after moving from Zanzibar to London, has tabled a motion urging Parliament to extend its best wishes to the family of Freddie Mercury on what would have been the rock star’s 77th birthday.
The motion also recognised “the enormous contribution of Freddie Mercury and Queen to music and culture and the love fans have for Freddie, which is still felt around the world.”
It comes alongside an event hosted on Feltham Green, and which saw a Sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) tree unveiled by Freddie’s sister Kashmira Bulsara and the Mayor of Hounslow Cllr Afzal Kiani.
The event was also attended by Hounslow councillors Farah Kamran, Samina Nagra, Samia Chaudhary, Marina Sharma, Adesh Farmahan and Guy Lambert, as well as the Feltham History Group.
In the motion, Malhotra congratulates Angela Parton and volunteers from the Friends of Feltham Green for organising the event. She also thanks Emi and Rico, who raised money from 175 Japanese fans to fund the donation of the Sakura tree in recognition of Freddie’s love of Japanese culture and cherry trees.
The tree is being planted in the new Freddie Mercury Memorial Garden.
The Sakura tree marks the latest memorial to Freddie Mercury in the area where he grew up, including a street renamed Freddie Mercury Close.
Speaking after tabling the motion, the MP said:
“The Friends of Feltham Green hosted a fantastic event which shows how much Freddie Mercury still means to Feltham. I’d like to thank everyone involved in the event.
“Freddie was someone who touched the world with his talent, passion and heart. The Freddie Mercury Memorial Garden is a brilliant initiative and will restore pride in the area and our hometown heroes.”