A memorial bench honouring fallen veterans has been restored after facing the threat of being scrapped.
The Worcester Branch of The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimental Association (WFRA) has organised a ceremony to rededicate the bench which commemorates Worcestershire Regiment soldiers who died during the Malaya Emergency.
The bench was formerly sited at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire (NMA) but as the NMA grew the practice of volunteers maintaining benches was stopped, meaning they fell into disrepair.
Three volunteers from Worcester Branch WFRA embarked on a rescue mission on November 29, 2025 to collect the bench and save it from certain destruction.
After its rescue, it was transformed by Scott Francis Welding of Hallow, who shot blasted and painted the three cast iron support panels.
The rotten wood was substituted with 14 high-quality recycled plastic slats provided by British Recycled Plastic of Yorkshire who waived their cutting fee.
Pinches Transport Ltd of Worcester also played a significant role, kindly donating transport throughout each stage of the rescue mission.
The members of Worcester Men’s Shed have agreed to take on the drilling, signwriting, cleaning of the two brass plaques and fixing a small plaque. They will also reassemble the bench on site.
This project has been made possible with public donations via a Go Fund Me page and from branch members.
Memorial to the men of the Worcestershire Regiment in Worcester Cathedral (Image: Worcester City Council)
The re-dedication of the Worcestershire Regiment Malaya Memorial Bench will see it relocated to Gheluvelt Park, a fitting new home adjacent to the Worcestershire Regimental Stone.
The bench will now serve as a prominent emblem to honour the Worcestershire Regiment, providing a focal point for Worcester’s WFRA’s annual service to remember all who served in the Malaya Emergency.
The rededication ceremony will take place at 10.45am on Saturday, April 18 in Gheluvelt Park.
There will be a welcome and short address from the chairman of Worcester Branch, Nigel Fish, followed by an address on the Worcestershire Regiment in Malaya 1950-1953 by Branch President, Lt Col (Retd.) Mark Jackson OBE.
A wreath and cross-laying ceremony will be followed by the unveiling of the restored bench by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant.
Members of the public are welcome to attend.
