Last year - on the day that Jess was born, and I was in London, a lady went missing from the Care Home in the village here. A huge search was organised - and sadly, her body was found, 48 hours later. All I knew at the time was that she was Margaret Smith, a widow, aged 87, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. It was a very sad story
At Easter this year, a new seat appeared in the village - and we spotted it when we were out on one of our walks. It is very attractive, and comfortable. And engraved simply "Margaret's Bench"
I did some research into who exactly Margaret was- and discovered she was involved with Guiding, WI and the RSPB - she'd worked in laboratories for ICI and Colman's Mustard. She was a Mum to two sons. And then I realised I'd met her once! Because her late husband Ron was my biology teacher at East Dereham High School For Girls back in the 1960s.
Here he is with Margaret and some girls on a school field trip [just after I'd left] He later became Deputy Head, and she worked as the school librarian.
What a lovely gesture by the Smith family, to give this bench in her memory. I shall sit there sometimes, and remember those lessons - some of which I can still vividly remember. I recall him teaching us to draw a diagram of a hip joint, with the ligaments and synovial membrane ...and the afternoon he explained why it was important to have legumes in your garden, because the nitrogenous nodules [aka 'fingers and toes'] on the roots of beans help to fix nitrogen in the soil. Mr Smith, I was listening, all those years ago. Thank you for all you taught us. I have only just started gardening, but I have definitely got those legumes in the raised bed!!
I hope that many people will rest on Margaret's Bench, and that some of them will have good memories of this kind couple, who loved encouraging young people, and shared their love of Creation with them,
What a lovely tradition to place a bench in memory of a loved one. It is not common here as far as I know.
ReplyDeleteIt's very common practice here - especially in high places or by the sea, where there's a lovely view.
DeleteRon was still teaching at the Neatherd High School in the late 1980s when my daughters attended and I used to do one afternoon a week as a library volunteer so met Margaret then .
ReplyDeleteOh that's an interesting link, Ann! Thank you.
DeleteAt Littlehampton on the seafront you will find 'the longest bench in the world'. You can pay for a slat to be engraved in memory of any important occasion; weddings, anniversaries, special birthdays and the departed. As you walk along you will come across little tributes fixed to certain slats; a flower, a message, a small charm.
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool
DeleteI hope someone in Margaret's family sees this post and can share it. Such a lovely way to remember her.
ReplyDeleteI have been in touch with her son - he sent me a lovely reply
DeleteThat's a wonderful way of remembering Margaret. There are so many wonderful people out there with amazing stories and lives and they are too sadly forgotten.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to acknowledge and to remember these lives
DeleteThat's such a wonderful story and I'm so glad you found out about Margaret. Like the above, I agree it's important to remember people otherwise their story is lost!
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteA lovely story. We have a memorial bench right down at the beach at the river and I sat on it today while DH was rigging our ancient sailboat.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an idyllic afternoon
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