School pupils vandalise memorial bench in Halesowen town centre

The youths have been warned that their school and the police will be informed after they attacked the town's 'friendly bench' on Hagley Street yesterday (Tuesday May 3) afternoon.

The bench was installed in memory of former Halesowen College staff member Caroline Williams, who died aged just 32 and boasts a plaque with her name on it.

The pupils tried to set fire to the bench and left it strewn with rubbish including sweet wrappers and cans.

BID manager Vicky Rogers said: "The group of pupils that decided to leave our town having caused damage to the Friendly Bench must be very proud of yourselves.

"Rest assured we have CCTV images and will be liaising with both the police and also your school.

"We will not tolerate this behaviour and will seek to make sure those responsible are dealt with accordingly.

"This is not only criminal damage but disrespectful to a the person and family that the bench is in memorial too.

"Halesowen BID and Halesowen In Bloom work hard to improve our town just to be ruined by individuals who have no civic pride or remorse for their actions."

BID manager Vicky Rogers, Mayor of Dudley councillor Anne Millward and Caroline's husband Wayne at the launch of the Friendly Bench in memory of Caroline Williams (pictured inset)

The bench, outside Wilko on Hagley Street, is designed to tackle loneliness and isolation and to bring communities together.

It was installed last June in a project spearheaded by Halesowen BID and was dedicated to Caroline, who lost her battle with cancer in 2020.

Caroline's husband Wayne, who works at Skate Hut, Halesowen, attended the unveiling ceremony for the bench, in recognition of work she did with Halesowen In Bloom and on countless other community projects through her role as Community Hub Assistant at the college.