The latest addition to King’s Road. Today, 18th January 2025, Declan McGivern has installed a bench outside The Whitehead Centre in tribute to his wife Gillian and his mother Susie. A memorial bench is a great idea; a place where people can sit, have a chat, share memories and enjoy the atmosphere in the heart of Whitehead.
It was an extraordinary and impressive sight to see people lining King’s Road on the day of Gillian’s funeral. Indoor gatherings were banned because of the covid emergency. While people could not attend a service, they could stand distanced, but as one, in solidarity with a family who had lost two people during that very difficult time.
Declan’s bench will be a celebration of how we can now sit together, remembering everyone who has gone before, the people who helped build the community here. Whitehead is blessed to have so many vibrant family-run businesses. Here we’re not just customers, but neighbours, and friends. So many of us have fond memories of Gillian, and now Declan has given us a place to recall those good times. Our thanks to him and his family for this gift to the town.
