Before the Ice Cream Hut, Westerfield Road

Come in by the Westerfield Road entrance by the Cabmans shelter and turn left - here you will find a bench for Jeanette Michael 1955-2009. In Loving Memory. She died in St Elizabeth Hospice aged 53. According to this tribute she had wonderful earrings and an infectious laugh! She must have been as artist as there is an artist palette carved on the bench.

Set back from the path is also this bench for with a small and simple plaque 'In Memory of Larry Crehan". 

The Path from Henley Rd to Westerfield Rd Entrances.

There is a direct path between the 2 entrances and there are two benches along the way

This one is dedicated to Florence Violet Wilding (1921 - 2000)

This is an unusual bench as it is made from recycled plastic rather than wood, the only one I have spotted in the park - it has just has the name Anne Chapman 1935- 1995 on it.

Over Looking the Round Pond

There are 3 benches that are set back to the north of the pond, but have a good view of both the pond and the mansion. Closest in this photo is a bench which unusually has 2 peoples names on it - AJ & EF Aldous. Were they husband and wife, brother and sister? 

Further along is a bench for Pamela Marshall (1936-2011). On the bottom stretcher is title of a song If you were the only girl in the world. Is this the Pamela Marshall who was a Suffolk artist?

The next bench also has a tree planted in memory of Prince Onoichi Ogonna Amobi 'Nochy' Deeply Loved, Forever on Our Hearts. According to this site, he died aged 41 in July 2016

The Reg Driver Building

Reg Driver played an important part in the recent history of the park and although he doesn't have memorial bench, he does have a building named after him!

There is also a triple bench near the building to commemorate the opening by HRH the Duke of Gloucester after the major restoration project on 7th July 2008. 

Set back from the path towards Christchurch Mansion is this bench for Majorie (Midge) Greaves 1913-2015

The Wilderness Pond

One of the biggest features of the park is the wilderness pond - home to loads of ducks and geese. Many children over the years have enjoyed feeding the ducks at the pond - I remember doing so at a young age!

Perhaps that is why the parents of  Cayden Thomas Grove , who only lived for a few days in April 2008, chose this spot. It has the touching words - Now playing in Heaven, with a picture of Eeyore on the bench. You can read his story here and make a donation to the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Just around the corner is a bench for Terry Bright who died in 1997 aged 52. His bench reads 'Simply the Best'

ITFC Doctor

Just along from the tennis courts and before you get to the sensory garden, is another newly installed bench for Dr Paul Jackson (1931-2014). He lived nearby in Fonnereau Road, and for nearly 20 years was the doctor for Ipswich Town Football Club, treating the players for any injuries.

A Good Neighbour

When I started this project, I never expected to find a bench dedicated to someone I knew, but today I came across this bench for John Pallant (1924-1914).

John lived in the house opposite to ours and was a good neighbour to us for over 25 years. A true gentleman! His wife passed away last month aged 98 and we miss them both. John's bench is next to the tennis courts and has a wonderful view over the park as well.

A catch up and a missing bench

There are still several areas of Christchurch Park that I haven't yet documented and I decided I need to map those benches that I have already blogged about, to make it easier to find them.

So, I set off this morning to start the mapping and found a new bench next to the very first ones that I blogged about. There is a new bench dedicated to Stephanie Thurston (1929-2015) next to a bench for Norman Thurston - so I am guessing they are husband and wife

I also found a bench near the Henley Road entrance that I had missed before - It was provided by the Ipswich Horticultural Society in 1988

There was also another new bench in the Henley Road part - this time near the link to the bridal path

It is just engraved with the name Edward Croome - he died at the relatively young age of 47 and there are some lovely tributes here.