My wonderful Dad was a great walker. All the years we walked together along the Thames path and around Beaconsfield gave me the idea of organising a bench with his name on. He sadly passed away in December 2014. For years as his health began to fail he would walk up to the old town and sit on his favourite bench. The wooden bench directly behind the war memorial. He was never pleased if someone else got there before him. He would watch people go by and look up to the buildings opposite. They reminded him of his mother’s house in the 1930s. He found comfort in talking to her.
As his health failed I would take him up in the car and he would use his walker to sit on his favourite bench. Sometimes I could persuade him to sit on a bench closer to the disabled parking but most times he would spend 20 minutes or more just crossing the green inch by agonising inch. Once on the bench he would smile. He loved this place.
I contacted the Town Clerk the following June and was asked to give several options of where the family wanted the bench to be placed. Our first thought was of the green in the old town. After several months the town council agreed. They put us in touch with The Blacksmith Shop who were very kind and helpful. The bench had to match the other metal benches on the green. In May 2016 the bench was in place. Tim and Arthur from The Blacksmith Shop did a wonderful job. Universal care looked after Dad for several years and many of the staff came out of their offices and offered us tea and coffee. On a windy day we sheltered in their offices while the work was being done.
We then took a few photos and his long time carer Kelly said “Look the sun is shining”. We felt he was with us. Looking down on us and smiling.
Many, many thanks to all who made it possible.
– In Loving Memory Of A.K.Kattan –
A bench for my Dad.