Benches with a message

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Inverewe benchThis month, Jude’s Bench Series is looking for benches with a message, of which we spotted several while on holiday. This one, for example, is at Inverewe, though I defy you to read the inscription from the picture. Even in close up, it’s hard to decipher.Inverewe bench Inverewe bench Inverewe bench Don’t ask me about the Gaelic, but I think the English says “The clear, fresh air in a place so peaceful invites us anew to the shores of Loch Ewe”.

The next one is near Smoo Cave. Much easier to read! Bench near Smoo Cave At Broch of Gurness, on Orkney, we came across this lovely memorial to Dr Olaf Cuthbert: “I leave few footprints on the sand for stormy seas to wash away. I take with me the breadth of sky and seas of unimaginable blue”.

Bench for Dr Olaf Cuthbert
I leave few footprints on the sand….

Finally, another memorial, this time to Ronnie Johnson, fisherman of Eshaness in Shetland.

Eshaness bench
Eshaness bench
In memory of Ronnie Johnson

I have one more bench from Shetland, but I’ll keep that for next time.

Scotland, UK , , , ,

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  3. Pingback: Bench series #45 | TRAVEL WORDS

  4. I think Jude is going to be inundated again this month, Anabel 🙂 You had me on hands and knees then, trying to read the inscription. Then I realised it was Gaelic. 🙂

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  10. OMG-These sayings are beautiful and I think this is great to have on benches. Here I have only seen small plaques saying wither donated by or in memory of…

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  15. You have found some beauties here – the Celts are very romantic I think. I haven’t found any so good. I love the Dr Cuthbert one. I might ‘borrow’ that.
    Thanks for sharing these Anabel 🙂

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    • I’m glad you like my father’s bench (Dr. Olaf Cuthbert). The lines were taken from a longer poem he wrote called Requiem. It was at the installation of this bench last summer (2013) I was reunited with my teenage boyfriend – we got married this summer and I have returned to Orkney. Every bench has a story 😉
      My blog about that and more is on scribblingwoman.co.uk if you were interested. Hope you return to Orkney soon. Sally

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    • Hi Heyjude – the lines on the Dr. Cuthbert bench were part of a longer poem written by my father (Dr.Olaf Cuthbert) called ‘Requiem’ – It’s fine to ‘borrow’ it but can you reference the poem and who wrote it when you do. Thank you. He’d be so happy to know that people found pleasure in lines he’d written. Sally Cuthbert.

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      • Well, when I say ‘borrow’ I meant to have the words inscribed on my memorial bench, so I shall have to make sure I leave the correct information for the family 🙂 They are lovely words and I appreciate you getting in touch and telling us more about the history of the bench. So often you are just left wondering.
        Jude xx

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