Some pieces leave the workshop and we find ourselves standing there for a moment longer than usual. This is one of them.
Katherine got in touch with us last year. Her mum, Ruth Mackay, had passed away, and the family wanted something lasting — something that could sit in a special place and say, quietly, that she mattered. Ruth loved children and the places she knew well. She was born in 1927 and lived a long, full life. Katherine knew she wanted owls.
We carved the backrest from solid oak — two barn owls facing each other, each one built up in relief and then painted by hand. A tawny on the left, a barn owl on the right, their bodies turned slightly inward. Around them, sheaves of wheat rise up the sides of the backrest. On the legs, we carved snowdrops and painted them in soft colour. The front stretcher reads Forever in our hearts. The backrest carries the words the family chose: In memory of Ruth Mackay (1927–2024). She loved children and this place.
It's a two-seater, built wide enough for two people to sit comfortably together. The oak will weather over time, going silver-grey if left outside — which we think suits a memorial piece. There's something right about a bench that changes with the seasons.
If you're thinking about a memorial bench for someone you've lost, we'd love to talk. Every commission starts with a conversation — about the person, the place, what mattered to them. We work with families across the UK and beyond, and we take real care to make sure what we build feels personal. You can see this bench in full here, or browse our memorial bench collection to get a sense of what's possible.
Ruth — we hope the bench finds a good spot.
