Park memorials
A memorial bench is a thoughtful way to remember a loved one. It can stand as a reminder of their life for many years to come. It's also a place for family and friends to reflect on memories and shared moments. If you are looking for a way to create a memorial for a loved one, then you can apply to donate a memorial bench in some of our parks and open spaces The bench can also have a plaque in dedication. We replace non-donated benches with new donated benches. The council will endeavour to accommodate requests for a bench to be placed at a specific location within an approved park, however, the final decision on the location of the bench will be the council's.
Plaques can also be placed on an existing bench
The council no longer provides a service for memorial benches at Gunnersbury Park. If you wish to apply for a memorial bench to be installed in Gunnersbury park please email info@visitgunnersbury.org.
Memorials in cemeteries
We also run a memorial scheme, where you can ask for a Clarendon bench or plaque in either Greenford Park Cemetery or Hortus Cemetery, in memory of a loved one.
Bench design
We offer a wooden bench or a Clarendon (metal) bench, with or without a plaque.
- wooden bench without plaque: £800
- wooden bench with plaque: £1,100
- Clarendon bench without plaque: £1,250
- Clarendon bench with plaque: £1,550
- memorial plaque on existing bench: £300.
Standard size plaque only - 63 by 152mm (can fit up to 5 lines with 36 characters per line)
Only text inscriptions are allowed, graphics are not allowed. Final approval of text will be made by the parks service manager to make sure it is suitable for a public open space.
Timescales
Applications for donated memorial benches are processed all year round. The council will acknowledge within 10 working days on request of your online request.
It takes approximately 21 working days to process the request; once the application has been approved, customers will receive proofs of plaque inscriptions for approval, The council will then make arrangements to take payment, purchase the bench, have the plaque inscribed and programme installation of the bench and plaque. The installation of a bench and plaque can take up to 16 weeks. Donation of a memorial plaque on an existing bench can take up to 8 weeks, when payment has been made. Customers will be informed once the bench and/or plaque has been installed.
Condition of donation
- Once the seat has been installed it becomes the property of the council and we reserve the right to move the bench to a new location at any time or remove the bench where it is deemed unsafe for use.
- Floral tributes and related memorabilia are not permitted to be left on or at the seat locations. Any such items found will be removed by the council.
- The council will make every effort to maintain the bench but as it will be installed on a public site it cannot be held liable for any damage or vandalism.
- The council will guarantee the bench against defects (not deliberate damage or vandalism) for a period of three years only from the date of installation.
- We carry out reasonable repairs to donated benches but will not undertake to replace seats which are vandalised beyond economic repair or stolen. If he bench is damaged beyond repair the council will remove it. We will look to offer a replacement
- We accept no replacement liability for the plaque or bench at the end of its useful life
Bench removal
If your donated bench is in a bad condition, damaged or unsafe for public use, we will need to remove it. We will try to contact the family members to let them know and also ask whether they want to donate a replacement bench. If the family do not want a replacement or if we do not get a reply within six weeks, then we may offer the space to another family.
We keep a database of contact details for each family. Please contact us to update your details if they change.