Pavilion stands as testament to ties

In a short documentary about the signature flowers of China, produced by the TV program China Hour in 2021, Pottage talked about the poor condition of the pavilion and asked for assistance from the local Chinese community.

When the news reached the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK, it started to fundraise for the pavilion's restoration, as part of its charity work within the Lord Mayor's Appeal, the official charity of the City of London.

Zhang Huijuan, vice-chair of the CCCUK, says the pavilion had become a symbol of China-UK friendship, and with donations from the chamber's member companies, including the Bank of China, ICBC UK, and Haier, a six-month restoration project was launched.

Pottage explains the principle of the project: "We want it to look loved and maintained, but don't want it to look sparkling new. The British winter is very wet and it rains a lot. So, there is always a balance between trying to keep the wood sound and keeping it looking natural."

The restoration was completed by the end of last year, and the CCCUK and the RHS held a celebration in front of the pavilion in April.

At the event, Zhang said: "The pavilion has been restored to its original splendor, displaying unique Chinese charm and symbolizing the continued cultural exchanges between China and the UK … In the future, CCCUK will encourage more members to contribute to public charity and social welfare to promote cultural and economic cooperation between China and the UK."

Caroline Wright, CEO of the Lord Mayor's Appeal, attended the ceremony and spoke about the charity projects the appeal had engaged in with the CCCUK in the past, including the building of a multimedia classroom for rural students in Shanxi province, and construction of a clinic in Yunnan province.