A memorial bench honouring well-known members of the Carlton Hill community was unveiled in the Garden for the Blind on Friday.
Retailers in the area held a number of fundraising events over the past few months to pay for the bench which was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Gedling MP Vernon Coaker on Friday.
The fundraising drive was led by Piginns café owner Marie Jackson, who was inspired to pay for a bench following the death of loyal customer Richard Watkin.
She was left upset by Richard’s pauper’s funeral, where his remains were cremated in a cardboard coffin, and was inspired to create a lasting memorial for him in the community.
Other retailers got on board with the idea and a bench has now been created which will not only remember Richard, but other members of the local community who have since passed away.
Over £1,000 was raised to pay for the bench and after paying for the memorial, the remaining money was donated to the Age Concern charity.
Marie said: “It’s nice to know that people care about us even when we are no longer here and there is now a place where we can sit and recall our fond memories of those no longer with us.”
