Fitting memorial for cricketer (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Fitting memorial for cricketer
12:13pm Friday 29th June 2012 in Business By Richard Garfield
L-R: Jon Player, St Cross Symondians Cricket Club chairman, Robert and Sarah Bowden, managing partners of Chic Teak, and club treasurer Mike Adams
A DUMMER garden furniture supplier has transformed an old chestnut tree into a beautiful memorial.
Chic Teak Plantation Teak Garden Furniture turned the tree in the grounds of the St Cross Symondians Cricket Club into a stunning deck and large teak tree bench.
The cricket club, in Winchester, wanted to utilise the aged chestnut tree and at the same time erect a fitting memorial for a popular young cricketer, Mark Parker, from New Zealand, who played for the club, but sadly died in the Bali bombing in 2002.
The Mark Parker Memorial Tree Bench was specially commissioned by the Mark Parker Trust. Made from A grade heartwood Indonesian teak, sourced from Government-run plantations, it is over three metres in diameter and will seat up to 20 spectators.
Chic Teak managing partner Robert Bowden, based at Southwood Farm, said: “We were proud to be asked to sponsor the Mark Parker memorial bench, and embraced the challenging installation.
“The chestnut tree was not only impressively large, it also had a complex array of aged roots which involved building a deck all around the tree to support the bench.”
Cricket club treasurer Mike Adams said: “We are lucky to have such a glorious location here at St Cross with so many trees and are delighted to be able to use the chestnut tree as a fitting memorial for Mark Parker whilst giving the club additional seating.
“This tree bench will make an excellent vantage spot to watch some superb quality cricket.”
The tree is located prominently in the centre of the grounds between the club’s two pitches. Since the tree bench is on raised decking, cricket spectators now have a viewing platform from where they can watch two matches from one spot.
