{Centre top:}
In memory of our brothers and sisters who have lived and died here.
{Centre, middle, on a large leave, above the arm:}
To those whose names are not here and those unknown.
{On the end at the left:}
With thanks to: Putting Down Roots; Capital Community Foundation; Fired Earth; Worlds End Tiles; Deutsche Bank; The Volunteers and Artists @ Southbank Mosaics; KPMG.
{On the end at the right:}
Inspired by Monet's Water Lilies
{Scattered across the whole bench are ceramic leaves, each of which is inscribed with a name. Reading approximately left to right:}
Pitbull
Henry William Spurgeon
???nberly ??shing
Margaret Irish
Maz
Belfast Billy
Janet Nolan
Johnny Rid
Ken
Michael Knight
Les + Susie Quinny
Sally
Young Paul
Peter MacMillan
Digger
Richard Grazinki, Ricky
Ginger Alan
Ian Ferguson
Mary Lea
Ronnie Clarck
Susie Greamcheese
Duke
Patrick Mooney, Libenlyman
Little Mary
Sundance
Whiskey John
Dave Guppy
Johnny Campbell
John Jennine
??? Willie
Peter Sasko
Petal
Hot Dog Willie
Jucy Lucy
London Dave
John Murphy
Sharon, Big Ta?? Gwizer
Fat Bob, F???
Spider
Barnie
William Charles Holly
Paul Fraser
David Snow 6.5.1965
Casey
? David Jones
Jolly ???
TC
Richard Harris
Jakie
London Sue
Digby
Lancelot Burns
Ballymena Jimmy
Jimmy Black
Teddy Bear
Andy Morgan
James ???
We've put 4 of these leaves in our image so you can see the effect. Many of the names are easy to read but others are worn or damaged, hence the '?'s.
It's always good to have someone in this type of photo - to give scale, and add some life. So we were pleased that this man was happy to be in our photo. He told us "These leaves, they're all my friends, the people I used to live with" as he waved his hand at the empty seats. We captured the names on the leaves on a second visit, not wanting to disturb the occupant any further.
A nearby information board confirms: "... the bench commemorates the people who frequented the churchyard and died on the street with no other memorial." Confusingly quotes someone from Southbank Mosaics saying, about the bench: "This was built by homeless people whose names are included on the ceramic leaves.." But the memorial itself says the names are of "people who have lived and died here."
We cannot find a date for the creation of this bench, certainly before June 2013, since an refers to it.
Site: Cardboard City bench (1 memorial)
SE1, Waterloo Road, St John’s Churchyard Garden
This bench is in the memorial garden which is in the north east corner of the garden.
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