Some benches are quiet. This one is full of colour, and that's exactly how it should be.
We made this memorial bench for Calum, a little boy whose family wanted his favourite world — Pokémon — brought to life in solid oak. Rather than a plain carved scene, we handed the backrest over to paint: a child sitting among the clouds with a book, Pikachu beside him and Charizard sweeping overhead, all under the words Forever in our hearts.
The detail is everywhere. Pikachu sits carved and painted on the top of each post, more of Calum's favourite characters are worked into the legs, and his name runs across the front of the seat. Every character was painted by hand in our Welsh workshop and then sealed against the weather, because a bench like this needs to keep its colour through Welsh winters and summers alike.
Working on a child's memorial is a privilege we never take lightly. The family talked us through the characters that mattered, the colours, the feeling they were after — and our job was to hold all of that steady and make something they could sit with for years. We hope it brings them a little comfort every time they see it.
If you're thinking about a piece like this, you can see Calum's bench here, or browse the rest of our memorial bench collection. Every one begins with a conversation, and we'd be honoured to have it with you.
