by David Bevan
The year 2014 was a very difficult one for Bill Bevan. His wife, Shirley June Bevan, had died after a very short illness at Boundary Hospital.
Very soon after, William Rhys Bevan was himself in need of palliative care at the Boundary Hospital. He expressed a wish to see the chairs and table in the covered outside seating area replaced with a couple of bench seats.
Bill suggested it would be a worthwhile project for the Woodworkers Guild to undertake and as secretary of the Boundary Woodworkers Guild it was his intention to approach the guild and ask them for a feasibility study. Sadly he did not survive to do this.
Bill and Shirley's Family and friends felt that in addition to the riverside bench donated in their memory, Bill's last wish should be realized. Money was donated by family and friends, for the project to be undertaken. It would mark their gratitude to the doctors and staff who had treated Shirley and Bill. They felt that immemorial lettering to Bill and Shirley was appropriate in a healing environment and that the carved inscription of “In Gratitute” would be acceptable.
The benches were made by volunteers of the Boundary Woodworkers Guild to be presented to the hospital by the family and friends of Shirley and William (Bill) Bevan and members of the Boundary Woodworkers Guild.
The team of voluntary guild members was led by Peter Kootchin and included Bob DeMaertelaere, Bob McTavish, Dennis Hanson, Dan McLean and David Bevan.