Leicester City Football Club has opened the Memorial Garden for its late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha at the location where a helicopter crash killed him and four other persons a year ago.
The garden at King Power Stadium opened on Sunday with players and staff taking part in a chanting ceremony by monks, followed by events led by other religious leaders in the city.
The garden was opened on Sunday, Oct 27, the day that Vichai, Kaveporn Punpare, Nusara Suknamai and two pilots — Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz — died a year ago after he attended a Leicester City home match at the stadium.
The photos of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other persons who died in the helicopter crash on Oct 27, 2018 are displayed in the garden. (Photo from Leicester City FC website)
“It has been a day of reflection for everyone. But, as well as being a tribute to all the lives lost that night, the memorial garden will serve as a reminder of what Khun Vichai did for Leicester City – what has been achieved under his leadership has been incredible," Leicester chief executive officer Susan Whelan said on the team's website.
"I think he would be very proud of how all of the players, the staff and their families and the fans have all come together today, and over the course of the last year, to hold each other up, and to support each other," she added.
Leicester City Fans Visit the garden after its opening. (Photo from Leicester City FC website)
Leicester players and fans paid their respects to mark the first anniversary of the helicopter crash on Oct 20 in their home match against Burnley as their following match last Friday was away at Southampton.
The fans attended the ceremonies on Sunday and laid flowers in a tribute to their late owner, who engineered the team to their historic first English Premier League champions in 2016.
Leicester City fans hold up a scarf and t-shirt referencing their late Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a match against Southampton on Friday. (Reuters photo)