Over three days (Friday 21st – 23rd August) and despite several challenges – including extreme heat, nine Wendover Canal Trust (WCT) volunteers completed the installation of a memorial bench at Buckland Wharf.
WCT worked closely with the bench sponsor, Jessica Mitchell, to ensure a suitable location was chosen.
The bench is dedicated to the memory of Dylan Gwyn Mitchell.
The plaque reads: ‘This bench is dedicated to the memory of Dylan Gwyn Mitchell 8th January 2012 – 13th December 2020, whose smile could brighten the darkest of days and who is missed beyond measure.’.
Bench installations are all part of WCT’s commitment to the environment and the local community.
It is also gratifying for our WCT volunteers to use their many and varied skills on projects that, as well as remembering a loved one, benefit all canal users.
Many thanks to all the WCT Volunteers who contributed their time and efforts.
If you would like to honour a loved one in this way, more information is available here : Wendover Canal Trust – Support Us
Or contact: Sales@Wendovercanal.org.uk
Work Party Report
WCT Volunteers manually barrowed all the Tools and Materials to the installation site, being situated on the diverted section of the Wendover Canal for the” new” A41 Relief Road.
Working tirelessly throughout the day, as the temperature rose, WCT Volunteers evacuated the base area and levelled the base shuttering ready for the concrete pour.
Unfortunately, it required a replacement Mixer to complete the concrete pour!
By 7pm, the site was cleared of all tools, materials and equipment and the WCT Volunteers were on their way Home,
On Sunday 23rd, 2 WCT Volunteers returned to remove the temporary timbers and shutters, backfill the space and securely bolt the bench in place.
Final landscaping being made to level and seed the location.
Content Contributions – Colin Metcalf & Ken Palfrey
Photos credits – Steve Chapman & Ken Palfrey