Carpenter '˜delighted' to honour RAF veteran and Pompey fan with memorial bench

A CARPENTER says he was '˜delighted' to create a bench for a RAF veteran.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Oct 2018, 10:51 BST
Updated 30th Oct 2018, 12:00 BST
Matt Knight with Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Susan Bayford and his benchMatt Knight with Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Susan Bayford and his bench
Matt Knight with Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Susan Bayford and his bench

Ted Burridge was known throughout Fareham for selling poppies in the town's shopping centre, for his days in the RAF and his love for cricket and Pompey.

When he died in May, friends rallied together to pay for his funeral and last week honoured the 82-year-old with two memorial benches in the borough.

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Matt Knight was the carpenter with the honour to create a bench in memory of Ted that has been placed in Tesco, Quay Street.

Ted BurridgeTed Burridge
Ted Burridge

Matt said: '˜To be able to design and make this bench for Ted was great. 

'˜My wood suppliers JF Goodwillie in Waterlooville gave me a discount which I thought was lovely.'

Matt donated his usual  fee to the Royal Navy Benevolent Fund for the bench which had Ted's full name (Edward '˜Ted' Albert Burridge) and is decorated with two poppies.

He added: '˜I think it is really important to recognise and respect our veterans in this day and age and say thank you to them.'

Related topics:RAFPompeyFarehamTesco