Priti Patel MP at the opening of the new memorial bench on the River in Coggeshall. From left: PC Mathew Harkness, Elaine Kelleher, Julie Whitney, Dee Griffiths, Dave Griffiths, Zachary Woods, PC Jed Raven, Mary Taylor and Jane Sharp.
Priti opens memorial to murdered Coggeshall swans
A memorial seat for a family of four swans brutally killed in January this year, has been unveiled in Coggeshall by the MP for the Witham Constituency, Priti Patel. Youths with catapults are believed to have been the culprits. The memorial bench can be found on the river in Coggeshall, near Bridge Street.
In a special ceremony on Friday 21st April, Priti, alongside Dee Griffiths, the local resident responsible for organising the crowdfunding of the memorial bench, cut the ribbon to declare the bench open. Other guests also present at the ceremony included Zack Woods, whose company ZWoods supplied the bench and planters used in the memorial, local artist Julie Whitney, who contributed paintings sold for fundraising and PC Jed Raven, from Essex Police’s Wildlife section. Perrywood Garden Centre provided flowers and planters for the memorial.
Speaking after the ceremony Priti said: “The family of swans that lived here, were very much a part of the local scene and their senseless deaths hit the community hard. I pay tribute to Dee Griffiths and all the local people who raised nearly £1,800 to create this wonderful memorial. I am very moved to be asked to declare the bench open and I hope local residents will take some comfort from its presence here.”
Dee Griffiths said: “I am grateful to Priti for attending and officiating at our ceremony. The four Mute Swans were very much loved by local people and I am pleased that we have been able to find such a fitting way to commemorate their lives and the very great pleasure they brought to us all by their presence here.”