Date issued: 27 February 2019
Four new bench seats have been installed close to the War Memorial at Cowdray Crescent, in one of the final civic acts organised by Colchester Borough Council to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice.
The seats, costing £650 each, feature the motto 'Lest We Forget' and two distinctive designs – one a war horse theme and the other with poppies and a dove of peace – and are made from laser-cut steel by renowned street furniture manufacturer David Ogilvie Engineering.
Members of the Town Centre Zones Team installed the new seats on the same spot as the previous benches, at either end of Cowdray Crescent.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment & Transportation said: “These new commemorative benches will be an attractive and poignant addition to the space around Colchester’s War Memorial, where members of the public can sit and pay their respects to the fallen heroes of our borough.
“By telling a story in their design, they will provide a visually arresting memorial for future generations to give thought to all those who made the ultimate sacrifice in World War One and conflicts ever since.”
Cllr Tina Bourne, Portfolio Holder for Housing & Communities, added: “We can be immensely proud of the many special ways Colchester honoured its fallen during the centenary of the Armistice.
“The installation of these new benches at the War Memorial is particularly moving, as it signifies one of the final civic tributes to be paid by today’s residents to all those who served and died a century ago.
“I hope people will appreciate the symbolism in their designs and find an opportunity to sit, linger awhile and reflect upon the horrors of war and the need, perhaps now more than ever, to bring lasting peace to the world.”
Page last reviewed: 27 February 2019