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.

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.

Continuing the Circle Round the Pond

This brass plaque just reads - In Memory of Chris Stollery - is this the Chris Stollery mentioned in this article?

Another simple plaque on the bench next door - in Memory of Helen Watson. With no details of when she lived, it is difficult to find out any more information on her and why she has a bench there.

This last one is under a tree and is for Claire Fulcher (1983-2005) with the lovely wording of 'Live Your Dreams'. Obviously still remembered by her family as she passed away only aged 22. 

More Benches around the Round Pond

This bench overlooking the round pond is in loving memory of Thomas Lee Bare who lived from 1935 to 1999. 

This one is not strictly a memorial bench but a birthday bench !  What a lovely way to celebrate Jennifer Rose Hartleys 60th birthday in 2001. She is a local author  and you can find her memoir about non violent protest on Amazon!

This is the view of the round pond from the seat of Kay Davey (1922-2001). A popular spot in the park!

The Round Pond

As you can see - the benches are enjoyed by many of the people who visit the park - giving them a chance to stop and appreciate the wonderful space around them.

This bench overlooking the round pond was provided by the family of Irmgard Ortiz - who had the wonderful nickname of Nanny Tortoise!

This bench commemorated the 161/196 Field Ambulances from the Royal Army Medical Corps - especially those taken Prisoner of War in the Far East. Their stories are told in an interesting website here

I haven't been able to find out anything about ST Baylis - but like how they have provided the bench For his love of Ipswich.

Near Christchurch Mansion

This bench on the approach to Christchurch Mansion is dedicated to Ralph Sidney Tricker 1920-2008 with 'Loved and remembered always' across the bottom'

 In the gardens at the side of the mansion is this bench for Veronica Burlinson 1925-2005 - another person who I cannot find any info on at the moment.

Also in the gardens  is this bench to Trevor David Welham who worked for Ipswich Borough Council, stamping out benefit fraud and who died at an early age of 56.

Just around the path from him is Ian David Drake 9.7.68-28.6.05. Inscribed with  Forever in Our Hearts and a picture of a koi carp

The Peace Garden

There are 2 benches for Sri Chimnoy - one to commemorate when he visited Ipswich and the Peace Garden in 1987 and another after his death in 2007. One is inscribed with 'A Dreamer of World Peace'. There Sri Chimnoy centre in Ipswich and a statue to him in Chantry Park

Nearby is a bench to Christopher James Jefferson who died aged only 40. It is inscribed  Ipswich - Rest in Peace  - Cambodia. I have discovered a press article 3 years before his death, about how he was caught up in an armed siege Cambodia.

Finally a bench erected in 2003 to show the close bonds with our twinned town of Arras. I was lucky enough to visit Arras last week as part of my First World War Battlefields tour. I went down the Wellington Quarry chalk mines under the town and learnt about the Suffolk Battalions role in the Battle of Arras 1917.

 This is where several thousand of men had to stay underground for several days before being given the order to attack.

The Sensory Garden

In 2012 part of the Arboretum was transformed into a sensory garden with the help of the Papworth Trust and its volunteers. With Lavender and other strong smelling plants, it provides stimulus for sight impaired people and also encourages butterflies to the area! This bench commemorates its opening,

The next bench is for Marc Downing who was tragically killed at the age of only 22 whilst on holiday by a hit and run driver . It has the lovely inscription "Music is the Language of the World" along the seat.

The third seat in this area is to remember Tony Warren - is this Tony Warren who played the flute and was involved in the Suffolk Concert Band?

The Tennis Courts

The first bench  coming under the tunnel towards the tennis courts  is in memory of a popular Ipswich Hairdresser Roberto Labella  who died of a heart attack aged only 39 - you can read more about him and the memorial bench here.

Just around the corner is a bench erected by the Friends of Christchurch Park in the year of the Queens Diamond Jubilee

I then came across one of the many squirrels in the park - he was quite tame and let me get very close before scampering off!

This last bench is very clear for who it is for -  Jack Chapman 1933-2012 who was chairman of the Ipswich Society from 2000-2012. There is a lovey eulogy of his life in an edition of the Ipswich Society newsletter. He was a teacher, magistrate, Fabian but not born or bred in Ipswich!

Around the Bandstand

There are 3 benches around the bandstand including the newest one in the park - it has just recently been installed - you can see how new it looks compared to another.

It is for Olive Fayers who loved to be 97 (1917 -2014) and has the lovely inscription ' Had A Wonderful Life'

the next bench is for another Olive - this time Olive Cook , who also lived to a ripe old age of 96 and was a great grandmother to 27!! Her bench reads 'she loved this park all her life'

The final bench here is for Trevor Dowe (1943-2010) and has the touching inscription 'Forever in our Hearts'

Still Near Henley Road

Yvonne Warrington must have been an animal lover, as not only did she ask for donations to the Blue Cross, but her bench has a pair of tigers engrave in it as well as ' In memory of Yvonne Warrington 1928-2014'. 

This bench has not one, but two brass plaques on it to commemorate both the 75th and 125th anniversary of the Boys Brigade in 1958 and 2008. They were presented by the Ipswich & District Battalion.

Henley Road Benches

There were quite a few benches in the Henley Road or Arts & Crafts section of the park.

Is this bench in memory of a young lady who died from epilepsy in 2008? Victoria ( Vicky) Baker - A true shining star

Next to that bench is one with a very tragic story attached to it

Kate Wasyluk was killed as she was walking along Foxhall Road with 2 other friends. They were hit by a car driven by a disqualified driver who was not only drunk, but also had taken heroin and ecstasy. 2 of the 3 girls were killed. Kate also has a tree dedicated to her.

I'm hoping that the story of Beate Parry, who may have lived just around the corner in Ivry Street  was not so sad.