Local Heroes Bench, Blyth

We've found ourselves in Blyth several times over the last year. These trips have both led us to a glimpse of The Local Heroes Bench in Ridley Park.

We enjoyed a fire parade that brought light to the depths of winter as part of Blyth Celebrates in 2025, and just a couple of weekends ago, we saw The Museum of The Moon, and Gaia as part of the Festival of Energy.

Blyth's streets and venues seem to have had a worthy glow-up as they bid for Town of Culture in 2028. Both visits led us to and around Ridley Park. Where three life size characters stand in unison.

It's easy to pass them off as some war memorial, but on a closer glance, the faces and frameworks are familiar. Three people made known to us through the media, and three men, all familiar with Blyth, having contributed in some way to its culture and heritage.

Laser cut in now rusted steel, the characters all throw a familiar shape in the landscape of the park.

Of worldwide fame, to the left stands Stan Laurel, whose father Arthur Jefferson was a renowned theatrical impresario managing theatres across the North East in their heyday. Jefferson owned the Theatre Royal in Blyth, in which his young son, Arthur Stanley Jefferson, worked as a call boy and made his first bit part appearances before going on to dominate the cinema screens of the 20s, 30s and 40s. This letter was uncovered and shared online from BlythTownNet which sees Stan Laurel reflect affectionately about his time in Blyth.

The area where Ridley Park stands today wasn't always flowers and fun times. Originally known as the Flats and Links, it was a large area of waste ground next to the Blyth Harbour and Dock Company. It was a natural stopping point for fairs and travelling circuses and miners' picnics were held here, with the official opening in 1904 when the land was gifted by the 1st Viscount Ridley.You can get a sense of the hustle and bustle here in this early photograph taken in 1910 and shared by Bedlington.UK.

The parks traditional Victorian symmetry still stands with squares and lines and rows. It's fitting then that on the edge of the park stands this relatively recent memorial dedicated to prominent people of our time.

In the middle is the outline of Coldstream Guardsman, Michael Sweeney from Blyth, who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2010 aged just 19. Deployed in operations in the Babaji district of Helmand province, Guardsman Sweeny tragically stepped on an unexploded bomb, which took his life.

Here he is captured in his uniform holding his bearskin, the huge black fur helmet that is worn at prestigious events such as Trooping the Colour or guarding Buckingham Palace. In June 2008, he had taken part in the Queen's Birthday Parade, wearing this very uniform.

The designer and artists of the Heroes Bench are Nick and Katy Hallett.

Residents were asked to nominate their local heroes across England. People's views were sought on those who'd really impacted their communities, and in many places, three characters with local links were given pride of place in a series of benches featuring people who were prominent community figureheads in specific places.

The benches have been designed to celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups of people who have gone above and beyond for their communities.

They were commissioned by the Sustrans charity and have been placed along pedestrian walkways and cycle paths to encourage people to think, reflect and get the most of their days out. There are currently just under 300 benches which have been installed across the UK, with 30 new benches having been commissioned for the Platinum Jubilee.

The final figure standing and most memorable for me, having known him, is the image of a blind policeman, wounded in the line of duty, protecting the public on 4th July 2010. That figure is of PC David Rathband, standing proud with his cane, defining him as having lost his sight. For me, this image holds such strong mixed emotions and equally depicts a tower of strength combined with sheer vulnerability.

On a cold winter's evening, after rain, the puddle that reflected the three men mirrored their images and doubled their impact.