Legend on the Bench-Herne Bay

Today 15th February 2026 we installed 6 Benches across Kent, taking our total installed to 99.

On a day when most would have chosen to stay indoors, sheltering from the biting wind, relentless rain, and the kind of cold that seeps into your bones, something remarkable happened on the seafront of Herne Bay.

It was the kind of weather that tests resolve. Grey skies stretched endlessly over the coast of Kent, rain lashed sideways across the promenade, and the wind showed no mercy, the cold was certainly in minus territory. Yet through it all, people came to support this wonderful cause..

They came wrapped in coats, scarves pulled tight, umbrellas battling against the gusts. They came because something important was happening, something that could save many lives. On that windy, freezing cold and soaking wet day, Legend on the Bench installed our very first bench of six.

And despite the horrific conditions, the turnout was nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you all, you are amazing people.

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As the cover was pulled back for the reveal, the moment felt almost suspended in time. Rain continued to fall, but no one seemed to notice. The bench stood proudly against the elements, with its message shining brightly and powerfully in the ferocious weather conditions. As always, the reveal was beautiful, touching deep inside your soul.

There is something profoundly moving about seeing a community gather in defiance of the weather. It speaks of something far deeper, a shared understanding that this bench is more than wood and metal. It is a symbol of hope, a gentle reminder you are not alone, a gentle reminder that someone is always listening and a place to talk without judgement. 🙏

Then came the speeches.

The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Keji Moses spoke with warmth and sincerity, acknowledging not just the installation itself, but the courage behind it, the courage to speak openly about mental health in spaces where silence has too often lived. Also in attendance was Lady Mayoress Carol Reed, Thank you.

The High Sheriff John Neame followed, and his message was articulated beautifully, reminding everyone that suicide prevention is not the responsibility of one organisation or one individual, it is a collective commitment. A responsibility we all share.

And finally Katie Moore spoke. Her words cut through the wind and rain with clarity and heart. She spoke about loss, about hope, about the urgent need for change. She didn’t shy away from the difficult truths surrounding mental health and suicide. Instead, she faced them head-on, articulating what so many feel but struggle to say, that conversations save lives, that visibility matters, and that small acts of community can create profound ripples of change.

This first bench was just the beginning, one of six that will stand as quiet guardians of conversation and compassion. If the turnout in such dreadful weather proved anything, it proved that people care, people are ready for change. People are willing to stand, even in the wind, rain and cold for a future where mental health is spoken about openly and where fewer families face the devastation of suicide.

A huge Thank you to Maria Howden our Local Champion, Ray Berry and all at East Kent Spurs, they have played a major part in raising funds to install a minimum of 14 Benches across Kent, and today attended 5 of the reveals in horriffic conditions. Thank you Maria and all your team, you are amazing and Kent is a much safer place with people like you in it. XXX

The storm may have tried to dominate the day and at times it felt like it did, but in the end community, courage, and hope were stronger and victorious. X