In memorial bench of local school boy is given new lease of life

Teams from Stockport business Solutions SK have given an ‘in memory’ bench, a much needed makeover.

The bench, made in memory of Jack Large, had been removed from the park in Bredbury due its state of wear.  Jack Large died at the age of 13 from sudden death syndrome.  At the time, the story was covered heavily in local media.

A student at Werneth School, and previously at Arden Primary, Jack had returned from a school exchange programme in Germany that very same day in July of 2007.  He arrived home, gave gifts to his family and then headed straight out to see his friends at the skate park near his home on Redhouse Lane.  His parents told the press at the time, that he died while skateboarding…”doing what he loved”.

Jack was at an age when his whole future awaited him. Popular with all who knew him, he had a strong sports background and one of his ambitions was to represent Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Moved by this story, the Solutions SK engineering team gave the bench a fresh lease of life – working in their free time, and without any cost to Jack’s family.  The bench is now back where it belongs… at the skate park for all to enjoy – to sit and watch those who still skateboard today; just as Jack would have wanted.

Jack’s dad, Nick, says,

 I’m so touched by everyone’s effort.  Every Friday evening I go for a walk and have a sit on the bench.  Knowing it’s been given this new lease of life means such a lot.  Thank you to everyone at Solutions SK.

(Below – Nick Large sitting on the newly refurbished bench for the first time)

Mark O’Connor, Group Engineering Leader for Solutions SK also commented,

“This project has been incredibly emotional for everyone involved.  We work with the local community every day and felt lucky to be able to restore this bench and help continue Jack’s legacy and memory as a permanent fixture in the skate park.”

After stripping down and removing the old timber, grinding and descaling the metal frame and fixing, the Solutions SK team treated the timber to a mahogany woodstain and varnish, as well as a new wooden frame and fixings.  The Solutions SK Sign Shop also assisted by making a newly polished memorial plaque, along with an additional sign on the side of the bench, ‘1994’ – a permanent reminder of the year this special teenager was born – celebrating his life, rather than his passing.