Widower 'devastated' by memorial bench fire

Martin Heath - BBC News, Northamptonshire
·2 min read
Charred remains of a wooden bench by a large lake
The memorial bench was destroyed by fire over the weekend [Lisa Smalley]

A widower has said he is devastated by the destruction of a memorial bench for his late wife.

The seat was installed in Daventry Country Park, in Northamptonshire, after William McDonald's wife died suddenly,

It was destroyed by fire over the weekend,

The campaigner Daventry Banksie, who made her name putting up notices about potholes, has left a condolence board and pens so people can offer words of comfort.

Wooden bench in foreground,
The seat was installed in 2021 in memory of Linda McDonald [William McDonald]
Woman with long brown hair wearing a pink flowery dress in a garden
Linda McDonald died suddenly at the age of 59 in 2020 [William McDonald]

The wooden bench was installed on the banks of the reservoir at Daventry Country Park by the family of Linda McDonald.

Her husband said: "My wife passed away in 2020.

"She was 59 years old and it was a sudden passing - it was completely out of the blue."

William McDonald with very short hair and beard wearing a blue jacket
William McDonald said he was "devastated" by the destruction of the bench [William McDonald]

The family needed somewhere where they could go and remember Linda's life, so a wooden bench was positioned in the park with a view over the reservoir in 2021.

Mr McDonald said: "It was in a beautiful area, you could sit there, relax, reflect, and think about the past.

"The kids and grandkids could go up there and put flowers on the bench."

Scorched earth with a lake beyond
There is nothing left of the bench at the site [BBC/Martin Heath]

Over the weekend, Mr McDonald was scrolling through social media posts when he saw one about a memorial bench being set on fire.

Someone had asked about the precise location of the seat and it became clear that it was Linda's bench that had been destroyed.

Mr McDonald said: "I just couldn't believe it, it just brings everything back when Linda passed away.

"We were devastated, the whole family."

He says that he has received a lot of supportive messages on social media, and the both the rangers and the cafe staff at the country park have been "lovely".

Large book labelled "sending love" and a box of pens
Daventry Banksie has left a condolence book and pens at the site [BBC/Martin Heath]

Daventry Banksie, the anonymous campaigner who made headlines earlier in the year by putting up pothole signs, has put a book and pens at the site so people can write condolence messages.

Mr McDonald described that gesture as "a lovely thought".

Northamptonshire Police said the bench was set on fire just before midnight on 29 June and they appealed for anyone with information to get in touch.

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