A bench made by a group of GCSE students to commemorate the coronation of the King has been unveiled in a town in west Dorset.
The three metre solid oak circular bench encircles a newly planted oak tree and overlooks the sea in Langmoor Gardens, Lyme Regis.
Commissioned by the Lyme Regis Town Council in conjunction with Cleo Evans and the Arts Development Company, the bench was built at the Boat Building Academy.
Eight students from the GCSE Craft Design and Technology course at the Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis worked alongside Nettlecombe furniture-maker Poppy Booth at the academy.
They worked on the initial framework and steam bending for the bench.
Boat Building Acadmey director, Will Read, tutor Mike Broom and technician Sam Robinson completed the work and the intricately-carved piece.
It was officially unveiled on Thursday, December 14 by Cllr Caroline Aldridge, the chair of the council’s Tourism, Community and Publicity Committee.
The students were in attendance to see their bench unveiled, along with members of the academy and town councillors.
Mr Reed said: “The BBA was honoured to be asked to play a role in this important project to commemorate the coronation of King Charles.
“Many weeks of hard work and expert craftmanship have gone into producing it and we hope it will provide a stunning place to sit for local people and visitors, for many years to come.
“Our thanks also go to Councillor Cheryl Reynolds who kickstarted the project, which has resulted in such a beautiful new piece of furniture for our town.”
Cllr Aldridge said: “The bench is a fabulous example of successful joint working by the team from the Boat Building Academy, Woodroffe School and our council gardens team, led by Pete Williams.
“It has truly surpassed all my expectations as a quite beautiful, yet simple, practical and useful piece of work set in the most stunning position. I am sure all of us in Lyme and our visitors will come to love and gather around it, as one of the key features in the garden.
“I urge everyone to go and visit, sit on it, touch, feel and smell the wood - and enjoy the fabulous view," she added.
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