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". 

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. 

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?

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.

A walk in the Park......

Yesterday I went for a brisk walk around Christchuch Park and noticed that many benches were dedicated to people, so today I decided to make a blog all about the benches and see if I could find out more about the people or events that were being commemorated in Ipswich's best park. 

This is going to be number 22 in my 50/50 Challenges - 50 new things to do whilst I am 50. You can read more about this on my other blog here.

I entered at the Park Road entrance and the first bench I came across was this one

It is dedicated to Tina, Sophie, Rudy and Tani who loved this park - and I am guessing that they were not people but dogs!  Still, its a lovely way to remember them and  it is in an area that is still popular with all the dog walkers.

Nearby was this bench with Norman George Thurston 1925-2007 - who enjoyed this park. So a bench seems very appropriate for him.

This one is a bit more mysterious - it just has For our friend Lisa - if you know who she was and why there is a bench for her, please contact me, I would love to know that it has't got her full name!

the final one is on a plastic moulded bench not a wooden one - the small brass plaque reads Richard S Markham 11.7.28 - 28.8.93 at peace in the park.