Memorial benches: donors reveal thoughts on Next Wave scheme

TWO memorial bench owners spoke of their monuments' importance, following last week's rally opposing the possible replacement of benches under the Next Wave Scheme.

caption: May Wing, 82, on her husband Ron Wing's memorial bench in front of the clock tower. The plaque reads: Ron's Seat, In Loving Memory Of Ron Wing, 1927-1997

May Wing and Christine Madeley both chose to remember loved ones by donating a bench to Rother District Council. In June, a Next Wave design brief submitted to architects HTA included updating the 46 memorial benches around the De La Warr Pavilion and West Parade area.

The final designs are expected within the next few weeks.

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May Wing, who at 81 is still working for Sainsburys Bexhill, carefully chose the location of her bench because it was a favourite spot of her late husband, Ron Wing, who died in 1997.

May, of Cooden Drive, said: "It's not just a bench. It's a memory of my husband. When he was less able he used to get in his car, come down and sit here and watch the world go by. And he loved it. We used to live in London so you can imagine.

"The local people use it, and visitors, and it's a memory thing. I sit down there with my granddaughter and great-grandchildren, and my family always go down there.

"My little seven year old great- granddaughter Holly sits on it and says, 'I'm lucky to have a great grandmother but as grandad's in heaven I can sit on his seat.'"

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May will have owned the bench for 12 years in November, and would feel a sense of defeat if it was removed. She said: "I can't see the point in taking them away but I don't suppose I can do much if they do decide that.

"I would be very disappointed, but they are bigger than I am."

Christine Madeley, of Cantelupe Road, is a third generation Bexhill resident who arranged a bench in 2004 in memory of her mother, Doris Madeley, and great-aunt, Trixie Morgan, known in Bexhill as the Webber sisters.

Situated on the colonnade upper tier, on the rowing club side, the bench is one those which stands to be affected by the Next Wave project.

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Christine, whose son Rob spoke to BBC film crews at the rally last Monday, said: "I'm not averse to change or regeneration, but I cannot see the point in altering various parts of the town just because someone's been given regeneration money for so doing."

She described the process by which her family's bench was arranged, saying: "It's very important to have it set where you wanted. The design was something you liked and was in keeping with the De La Warr. I don't fancy having our plaque taken off and put on something else.

"There have been so many rumours on this and some have been quite hilarious. There was talk of them all being taken away and put on Galley Hill, looking like a church without a roof on.

"Surely there must be more imortant spaces around the town to regenerate. It's often been said, but for the regeneration of the town centre, five million would go a long way."

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Ian Roadnight, an amenities officer for RDC, quashed a few of the rumours. He said: "There's been some coverage that they'll be stainless steel, but that's not true. The brief that's been given to the design team is to keep it within the theme of the area."

He said speculation over modernist designs mistakenly stemmed from an earlier exhibition demonstrating designs used in other seaside towns, and added that although BBC coverage referred to the scheme as a "seaside regeneration", seating on East Parade would not be affected, as it was "not within the money or the master plan to touch the East Parade".

So far, 22 of the 46 bench donors on record have been contacted. Ian said: "We'll do all we can to identify these people and consult over any decisions that are made."

Next Wave project sponsor Cllr Christopher Starnes said: "The Council understands the memorial benches are a sensitive issue '“ that is why we have traced as many families as possible to let them know work is to be carried out on the seafront.

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"The Next Wave scheme could represent an investment of up to 5.1million in the town- which is good news for residents and visitors.

"While the memorial benches will be affected, it is wrong to say the Council has decided seafront plaques should be removed '“ the Next Wave steering group will consider the options once the final designs come back from the architect."

If anyone has a bench on West Parade, and has not received a letter or has yet to contact the Council confirming receipt of a letter, please call Ian Roadnight on 01424 787536 or [email protected] by September 1.