Tribute bench washed 80 miles in stormy sea reunited with family
A tribute bench found on a beach 80 miles from where it was washed into the sea during a storm is set to be reunited with a family - who say the "heartwarming" effort of locals to track them down "restores your faith in people".The wooden seat made in tribute to Warrington man Bill Batcock was pulled into the Irish Sea off Anglesey in December, before travelling 80 miles (130km) and resurfacing on the Cumbrian coast.It was stumbled upon by members of a local Facebook group who tracked down the man's daughter, Helen Wharton, to tell her the bench had been found."Dad was such an adventurer, to think he's made a break for it to go on another adventure, it just makes me smile really," she said.
Ms Wharton said she and her family had "no idea" the bench had gone missing during Storm Darragh in December. She said she was shocked to be receive a message on social media with an image of the bench wedged between sand dunes on Drigg beach near Seascale, Cumbria, asking: "Is this yours?""I couldn't believe it, it was all so strange," said Ms Wharton, who lives in Padgate, Warrington.
The bench was erected on some exposed headland at Bull Bay on Anglesey to commemorate Mr Batcock, a lover of the Welsh coast and mountains, who died of leukaemia in 2018.He asked for the bench to be placed there "as he wanted to look out across the sea, across the coast and mountains, towards home", she said. Words from one of his poems had been inscribed on a plaque on the bench, which read: "For me, it has to be the sea."Ms Wharton told BBC Radio Manchester the message was now "quite ironic" given the remarkable journey of the bench.She said the campaign to return the bench was "really lovely", adding the words on the plaque had intrigued local people.
"It's just typical if you think of my dad, nothing would tie him down," she said. Ms Wharton and her family plan to travel to Cumbria on Friday to collect the bench and return it to its home on Anglesey.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Plans for 31 ‘affordable' Bodelwyddan homes take step closer
In September 2023, Wales & Wales Housing lodged an application to demolish a bungalow and build 31 affordable 'general need' homes on Bryn Morfa. Denbighshire County Council's planning committee approved this in November 2024, but with 17 conditions attached; four of which have now been satisfied. The 31 new homes will comprise 19 houses and six apartments and bungalows each, with a planning statement saying: 'The proposed scheme is now a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme, to meet an overriding and pressing need for affordable housing in the county. 'Access to the site requires the purchase and demolition of existing bungalow on Bryn Morfa. 'By demolishing the existing bungalow on Bryn Morfa, the site can be developed to its full potential, providing units which complement the size, scale and mix of the existing surrounding houses and bungalows.' Though the council's planning committee granted this application planning consent, it attached conditions which included: Yesterday (June 4), the planning committee approved the developer's responses to these four conditions. Regarding Welsh language, it said: 'The proposed scheme will be given a Welsh name. The names 'Llys Morfa', 'Cae Morfa' and 'Llys y Cae' are being considered. 'An application will be made to the council's licensing team to confirm a Welsh name. 'All signs/notices will be bilingual and displayed on site throughout the construction phase of the development. 'The proposed scheme will have a Welsh name, and all on-site signage will be bilingual.' In terms of biodiversity, 18 trees are to be planted in the communal areas of the site, while a 'nest box' and 'bat tube' will also be incorporated. Prior to the application be approved, concerns had been raised about such factors as a loss of green land, an increase in traffic on a narrow street, and the safety of children playing outside. At a planning meeting last July, Cllr Jon Harland, seconded by Cllr Arwel Roberts, proposed that the application be refused, arguing that the site was not suitable as grassland and shrubs would be destroyed. But this proposal was voted down 12-4 by members.
Leader Live
3 hours ago
- Leader Live
Outdoor activities safety concerns raised by North Wales MS
Sam Rowlands, a Welsh parliament member for the region, requested an update from the Welsh government regarding improvements to outdoor safety. The chairman of the cross-party group on the outdoor activity sector questioned Huw Irranca-Davies, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, about efforts to improve safety for outdoor pursuits. Mr Rowlands said: "You will know the good work that takes place through the cross-party group on the outdoor activity sector in Wales, and you'll also agree with me that we have some of the best outdoor activity organisations here in Wales that you could possibly imagine. "There have, though, been some recent tragic high-profile cases where basic safety standards in the outdoors have been ignored and caused tragic circumstances to arise." He also pointed out ongoing pressures on organisations such as mountain rescue, which aid people who find themselves in dangerous situations outdoors. Mr Rowlands expressed concern over the lack of clear direction from the Welsh government regarding responsibility for outdoor safety and associated legislation. He inquired about a point of contact for the sector to engage with as they strive to assure the public of safe outdoor enjoyment. READ MORE: NHS Wales to remove no-show patients from waiting lists, health secretary confirms In response, the minister confirmed that the Welsh government is committed to promoting safety, with a focus on prevention and risk mitigation for outdoor activities. Mr Rowlands added: "I firmly believe that everyone should be able to take part in activities safely outdoors and in particular that all young children should have the opportunity to enjoy outdoor education. "I recently met up with Scouts at Cox Wood Campsite in Rossett to see for myself how young people are able to benefit from taking part in all sorts of activities including being taught survival tips."
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
Houseplants will ‘bloom for years' thanks to common item in your food bin – and peace lilies find it ‘so tasty'
IF you often struggle to keep your houseplants alive (don't worry, we do too), then you've come to the right place. There's nothing worse than someone giving you a houseplant and just days later, it's looking worse for wear. 3 3 But now, luckily for you, we've found a handy hack that will ensure your plants bloom for years. And fear not, you won't have to nip out and splash the cash on pricey fertiliser - in fact, the secret may even be in your food bin. Peace lilies in particular are said to find this trick 'so tasty', so if you want to ensure repeat blooming, this homemade feed is one you won't want to miss. When it comes to caring for peace lilies, it is important to only feed them once a month during the growing season, which is spring and summer. It turns out that overfeeding can be harmful, so it's important to avoid excess fertiliser. And now, gardening enthusiasts have shared a super simple homemade fertiliser - and the key ingredient is banana peels. Taking to the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook page, an anonymous user explained: 'In the summer, I feed my houseplants with a homemade banana soak. 'My peace lily loves it, just thought I'd share it in case anyone is struggling. 'I've always struggled to get my peace lilies looking good, but bananas make them bloom for years.' The gardening guru then added: 'Once I've eaten a banana or given it to my dog, I'll chop the peel and soak it in some warm water. Gardening hacks to grow fruit from your weekly shop 'After a few days, pour sparingly on your plants, so tasty for them.' The social media post attracted numerous comments from other houseplant enthusiasts, who also praised the effective banana peel trick. *If you click a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue Nick Grey, Gtech Inventor and CEO shared the tasks to crack on with as Spring arrives. 1. Clean your garden Make sure to clear away all leaves, soil and plant debris from your patios and flower beds; this creates a healthier environment for new growth, especially as we get into the summer months. Gtech's Garden Safety Kit includes durable gardening gloves and safety glasses; perfect for comfortability whilst tackling those outdoor tasks. 2. Weeding Early Spring is the best time to tackle weeds; if you can introduce some regular weeding into your routine, you can guarantee a tidy garden all year round. 3. Hedge maintenance Spring is the ideal time to tidy up overgrown hedges and shrubs, as regular trimming ensures healthy growth and reduces pest issues. Using a tool like the Gtech Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can help to keep your greenery looking sharp and neat. 4. Composting Starting a compost heap this spring is a pro-active, cost-effective way to harness nutritious soil for your plants and recycle organic waste that will benefit the overall health of your greenery and foliage. 5. Look after your lawn Lawn care is hugely important in assuring your garden stays looking beautiful. Make sure to rake away any excess leaves and trim your grass routinely. One user beamed: 'Heard lots about this, so I gave it a go. I only use it now and again and then a proper feed in between, but it's fantastic.' Whilst a second chimed in: 'All houseplants love this, not just peace lilies, but be careful not to over water.' According to houseplant enthusiasts, soaking banana peels in water releases nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium, which are beneficial for many houseplants, but peace lilies in particular. It is crucial to dilute the banana water with water to make it last longer and ensure it doesn't overwhelm the plant. 8 must-have plants to brighten up your garden Nick Hamilton owner of Barnsdale Gardens has shared his favourite plants and flowers you should consider adding to your garden, borders and pots. Tricyrtis A spectacular plant that gives a real exotic feel to any garden with its orchid-like, spotted flowers giving the impression that this plant should be tender but it is 'as tough as old boots!'. Penstemon I love this plants genus of because most will flower all summer and autumn. They'll grow in sun or semi-shade in a well drained soil and produce a non-stop display of tubular flowers in an array of colours and colour combination to suit all tastes. Luzula sylvatica 'Marginata' With the evergreen leaves edged with yellow it's great asset is that it will grow in sun or shade in any type of soil and is great as groundcover in the hardest spot to fill - dry shade. Eryngium x zabelii 'Big Blue' A stunning, nectar-rich plant that will feed the beneficial insects in your garden. Leave the flowerheads once they have turned brown because they look stunning with winter frost and snow, extending the plant's interest period. Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem' If you need winter scent then look no further than this compact, evergreen shrub. The scent is stunning and the evergreen leaves create an excellent backdrop for the summer flowers. Cornus sanguinea 'Anny's Winter Orange' A dwarf version of 'Midwinter Fire' the very colourful stems create a stunning winter display, particularly on sunny days. Rosa 'Noisette Carnee' A very well-behaved climbing rose that is perfect for training over an arch, pergola or gazebo. The small, 'noisette' flowers are blush-pink and produce the most amazing clove scent constantly from June to November. Sanguisorba hakusanensis 'Lilac Squirrel' I've never seen a squirrel with a drooping, shaggy lilac tail, but this variety will give your garden an unusual and different look throughout summer. It does need a moisture retentive soil but will grow in sun or semi-shade. Not only this, but banana peels can also be used to fertilise outdoor plants, including tomatoes, bell peppers, roses and hydrangeas. If planting a new plant, you should simply scatter some banana peels beneath the compost, or place them around the top of the soil. Not only will this be beneficial to your plants, but it can also help to deter pests such as slugs, who hate rough surfaces.
