April issue - Magazine - Page 59
Glenside
News
GlensideNews@mail.com
COMMUNITY
GARRY’S MEMORIAL BENCH
Following the sudden death of Castle Bytham’s long-serving postman at the end of last year,
a permanent reminder of the man who meant so much to our community was planned. In April,
a bench was installed at the crossroads with Garry’s family in attendance. His widow Jill writes:
Dear Castle Bytham,
Jill and
daughter
We wanted to write and
Leanne
say a heartfelt thank you
for the incredible support,
kindness, and warmth
you've shown our family
since Garry's passing in
November. The many cards
and letters we received
from across the village
meant so much to us. Every
single message was a
Ken with
Garry’s dad comfort, and we were truly
Garry’s
Ken and touched by your
brothers
stepmum thoughtfulness.
Steven
Vonnie
We'd also like to thank
and Ivan
everyone who took the
time to leave a message in
the beautiful
Remembrance Book that
was so kindly given to us,
and to all who generously
contributed to the
collection we received.
Garry often spoke so fondly of Castle Bytham and the people in it, but we hadn't realised just how much he meant
to you all—both as individuals and as a village. That has brought us so much comfort.
We want to say a very special thank you to Andy Vernon, one of Garry's close friends, who suggested the idea
of a memorial bench and kindly took the lead in arranging it. At such a difficult time for our family, Andy handled
it all with such care and thoughtfulness, and we're incredibly grateful for everything he did to make it happen.
Our thanks also go to the Parish Council for funding and arranging the beautiful bench that now stands at the
crossroads in Garry's memory. We're also thankful to Steve Brimson, another friend of Garry's, who kindly gave up
his time to install the bench for us, free of charge.
It means the world to us to know there is now a permanent place in the village that remembers Garry—a place in
a community he loved so dearly and truly felt a part of. It's clear to us now just how much he was loved in return, and
we feel so proud and honoured by that. With all our love and deepest thanks, Jill, Leanne, and all of the Preston family
Garry’s grandson Conor
