Stop and Rest Those Weary Legs Awhile...

Friday afternoon and a large package is delivered to the Museum. Wrapped in plastic and standing on a palette, it looked like an entry for the Turner Prize. Visitors asked what it was from this weird and wonderful black plastic clad shape. Museum staff knew it was the long awaited-for bench which had travelled all the way from Northern Ireland.

Some months ago a call went out amongst veterans of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment to raise some money for a Regimental Op Banner memorial bench to be put in place at Palace Barracks Memorial Gardens in Holywood, Northern Ireland. Co-ordinated by Les and Paul, two of the veterans, the donations started rolling in and soon they had raised well over the target for the Op Banner bench. After some consideration, a second bench was commissioned and Les contacted me at the Museum to inform me that a KORBR bench would be made and sent on to the Castle.

I was lucky enough to see photographs of the bench before it left the manufacturers but was sworn to secrecy. Our main concern at the Museum was where we would put it - inside or out? However, we made the decision to place it outside, to the left of the main door against the wall which would offer it some protection from the elements but would be seen by everyone going into Alma Block. When we unwrapped it today, it looked as if it was made for the that location, sitting comfortably against the wall ready to be sat on.

We value the support and assistance of our veteran community. Whether it be a friendly phone call, help and advice or a beautiful new bench, every little helps. We are here to look after their Museum and their history. Today they have contributed something which links it all together - the bench. We can't thank them enough.