Sarah Elizabeth Clematis to be unveiled today at Chelsea

Monday 21 May 2018

Today marks the start of the annual Chelsea Flower Show, where a new strand of clematis is being released in memory of murdered Guernseywoman Sarah Groves.

The Sarah Elizabeth has been developed and cultivated by both Miss Groves' parents and local expert in floristry, and specifically clematis, Raymond Evison; to honour her memory. It is being launched at Mr Evison's show in Chelsea, where he is confident he will win his 30th gold medal with the new plant.

Ms Groves was stabbed to death while staying on a houseboat in Srinagar, India, during April 2013. Her parents are still seeking justice as the trial against the man arrested for the murder is still ongoing, having faced a string of delays and obstructions. 

The 119th hearing resumed on 19 May 2018, where, despite an initial air of optimism thanks to the local unrest subsiding, "nothing substantial" came from the meeting after the Indian Prime Minister made an unexpected visit to the area, delaying proceedings.

"Unfortunately, a major spanner was thrown in the works today when India Prime Minister Modi made an unexpected and unannounced visit to Srinagar.  He had been visiting Jammu, the other major centre within Kashmir, for the inauguration of a major infrastructure project. This is a further setback because this one witness will have been giving evidence for seven months by the time the defence counsel has finished their cross-examination," Vic Groves, Sarah's father, said.

"There are still 15 or 16 witnesses to be heard and simple arithmetic leads to the inevitable conclusion that there is still no end in sight for this farce of a trial."

The release of the Sarah Elizabeth clematis will mark what would have been Ms Grove's 30th birthday on 21 June this year - Mr Groves added that the timing was perfect.

The flower will be available for purchase on the Sarah Groves Foundation website, here.