Legend on the Bench
- Micky Hazard
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
Bench 102; Saffron Walden
Today we unveiled our 102nd Bench in Saffron Walden and I don’t think I will ever quite find the words to describe how much these moments mean 💙
Seeing so many of you there filled my heart in a way that’s hard to put into words. The turnout was incredible, and having such a wonderful group of young people attending from Cafe Cornell moved me deeply. They are the most special of people and to see the next generation standing with us, listening, supporting, caring, it gives me real hope for the future of these conversations.
The speeches were so beautifully delivered by our trustee Paul Carrington, the Mayor, and Dave Law. Each of them spoke with such honesty and compassion about Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. When people in positions of leadership stand up and speak openly, it chips away at the stigma and reminds everyone listening that these conversations matter, that people matter.
And then came the unveiling.
That quiet pause before the cover comes off, the stillness in the crowd, and then the moment the bench is revealed. It never gets dull, it never feels ordinary, it’s emotional every single time. Because that bench represents love, it represents loss, it represents the conversations we wish had happened sooner, the words we wish had been spoken out loud. And it represents hope. hope that it gives someone the courage to make a call, send a message, start a conversation, or simply stay. 💙
To Dave and his team, the work you do is nothing short of incredible. You play such a vital and meaningful role within the community, quietly and consistently supporting those who are often the most vulnerable in our society. The kindness, care, and compassion you show does not go unnoticed, it changes lives. The fact that you not only give your time and energy to that work, but also find the time to raise the funds for a bench and everything that comes with installing one, speaks volumes about the kind of people you are. You don’t just talk about support, you live it. Truly incredible people. 💙
To the Mayor, thank you for your support and words, again, having lived through suicide you understand fully the importance of what we are doing. Thank you.🙏
To everyone who came along, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. When you show up in your numbers, you don’t just attend an unveiling, you become part of something much bigger. A space where silence doesn’t have to be carried alone. Where tears aren’t something to hide, where struggles aren’t judged and where saying “I’m not okay” is met with compassion, not discomfort. Thank you 🙏
102 benches. 102 spaces for reflection, 102 reminders that every life is precious and you are not alone.🙏
And onwards we march 💙
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