The Portrait Bench

Did you know up in Gallagher Park, there is a tribute to three notable Bedlington people called The Portrait Bench.

GP John Brown - Who treated people for free for over 50 years before the NHS days, mainly treating the local miners. He would also head down into the pits himself to provide treatment.

Sir Daniel Gooch learned his trade at the local ironworks before working for Brunel. He designed and produced more than 340 locomotive including the Great Western Railway (GWR).

Mary Weightman, an animal welfare campaigner who founded People's Animal Welfare Service (PAWS) to help people who couldn't afford to take their pets to the vets.

Unveiled on September 10 2011, the artwork is created by Sustrans as part of a national network of public art and sits on the national cycle network.

The people were voted by Bedlington residents to show a real mix of the history of the town.

Thanks to our Fabulous North friend Bob Tame for sending us these photos. However Bob also told us that Mary was actually his first cousin, twice removed. He never met her, but heard about her from family members.

Source and more info from The Free Library.