Memorial Benches Presentation - Draft

'Places of Absence'

The following sideshow presents a number of discourses which can be analysed from the investigation of memorial benches in Scotland.

The presence of a memorial bench provides a physical link between the deceased, those left behind and society, and all memorial benches are inseparable from the ideas of immortality, sacred place and identity. As a result, a number of discourses overlap. The images have been divided in groups according to discourse, however to ensure validity and reliability and allow observation of this overlapping, each bench is represented by three or four photographs which set it in its context.

Vandalism

A very good friend made me aware of an article in the Edinburgh Evening News about vandalism in Princess Street gardens. (see links: Evening News) Young vandals are displaying all sorts of anti-social behaviour, even tipping memorial benches down the slope. This behaviour is interesting from a sociological point of view and allows us to consider their perception of and attitude to memorial benches (and public spaces and people in general).

This article can be seen alongside the bench with the bottle of buckfast too!

Robert Burns Lament

I am a bending, aged tree,
That long has stood the wind and rain;
But now has come a cruel blast,
And my last hald of earth is gane;
Nae leaf o' mine shall greet the spring,
Nae simmer sun exalt my bloom;
But I maun lie before the storm,
And ithers plant them in my room.

Robert Burns
Lament for James, Earl of Glencairn

Ban on memorial benches

See attached under 'links' an article from The Herald regarding the ban of personal memorials in public places after a complaint "that they turn a relaxing day out into a depressing experience". While many consider sitting on a memorial bench to be a pleasure and delight, other find this uncomfortable and even disrespectful. I agree that people can overdo it by making a bench into a shrine, and support South Lanarkshire council's decision to remove all other memorabilia, however I personally think that banning new benches (and trees or plaques) from being erected is going too far. Food for thougth anyway...

Memorial bench to Karen Aim

Attached for those interested is the link to the Press & Journal article (2nd March 2009) about the unveiling of the memorial bench set up for Karen Aim, the Orcadian girl who was murdered while travelling in New Zealand.

Where is that link?

It is about time to add the link to the table that goes alongside the photos. I thought I managed it but as it is not here... must be somewhere in cyberspace! The hunt has started...

Bench 29

Brodie Castle, Moray.
The bench stands in the Castle gardens and has an interesting story attached to it (see table).