Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#1
There have been flowers on this bench for the past few days. I saw the family placing them there several days ago as the bench is just below my window and of course it is always sad to witness. There are lots of benches now on the seafront, all in memory of somebody. They are proliferating in recent times.
This one is in memory of Paul Keith Gillman born in 1965...date of death was I think 2010 but its covered by the flowers, and I didnt like to disturb anything. But thought it worthy of a picture as its a nice but sad gesture.
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#2
That is lovely. Memorial benches are quite popular now, especially placed where someone enjoyed a favourite view.
#3
You know, this is what graves and graveyards are for. Although any death is sad do we all want to share in what should be private mourning? What if some elderly or frail person should want to sit down?
Fine to fund a bench but I am not sure about the flowers thing.
I believe I read somewhere they are banning any more memorial seats because they are cluttering up the view and people find them depressing (I think it was on top of a hill somewhere, sorry can't remember exactly where).
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
I find nothing wrong with the flowers, they are there for a short time. If I had paid for the memorial bench I would expect to be able to remember that person in this way if I wanted.
Without these memorial benches there would be nowhere for the "elderly or frail person" to sit down and a graveyard is not of much use if the person concerned has been cremated or they died in another part of the country.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#5
Paul Gilman was a friend of mine, he played in my football team and his Daughter and my Daughters are friends, he died last year of a heart attack.Great bloke.
I was at his funeral and I told a story that summed him up,he was playing football for my team and went in for a tackle and the noise I heard a crack I knew he had broken his leg.I could see the bone sticking out so I threw myself on him to stop him getting up and doing more damage to his leg.
Once we spoke to him he was calm,and asked me for a cigarette,the referee was shocked at the state of his leg so didnt say anything,but then Paul said something to me which really summed him up,and had us all laughing.
He said I wish I had a Sh*t before I came out because I need one now! The worse bit was telling his wife that he had been taken to hospital as at first she thought I was joking,then the shock because thier son was being christened the following sunday.He had 2 or 3 operations on his leg and arrived at the Christerning in a wheelchair with his leg plastered up,
Believe me he was a great guy and is sadly missed.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#6
He worked on the Ferries and repaired them and travelled all over the South including Portsmouth and Isle Of Wight in fact a coach load of mourners came from there for the funeral.
He spent his life fixing boats and what a wonderful place to put a bench to remember him.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
john
is this the chap that collapsed and died in clarendon street last summer?
Guest 717- Registered: 16 Jun 2011
- Posts: 468
#8
I like to see people remembered in this way. To know that loved ones are still remembering him by making an effort to show it is touching. (yes i know you dont have to show it but this is how some ppl express there loss). How often does someone walk through a grave yard? Reminds you how fragile life is a all those special people we have in our lives. It's only a few times a year they do this and it is not like there are not plenty of other benches to sit on in that area.
Speaking of memorials, what are the flowers for tied to the lamp post outside the old Sommerfield?
I don't go to that area of town very often and only noticed them recently, they look quite old now. I must have missed something.
Keeps politics to myself
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#9
Helen, they were put there because an unfortunate young person died there several months ago.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
#10
No Howard Edred Road in Tower Hamlets
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
