A memorial bench has been installed on the banks of the River Severn in Worcester, in honour of Councillor Stuart Denlegh-Maxwell. The popular local councillor sadly passed away on 10 June 2019, at the age of 60.
The bench, located on Kleve Walk opposite the west door of Worcester Cathedral, was unveiled on Tuesday 15 September – which would have been Stuart's birthday.
Fellow Claines councillor Andy Stafford, who originally suggested that a riverside memorial bench be installed, said: "The River Severn was of particular significance to Stuart; in his childhood he would swim in the river.
"He had a long-term association with the rowing club and he'd regularly walk his dog Daisy along the riverside. Stuart was a strong supporter of the Riverside Park and took a keen interest in its development."
Cllr Denlegh-Maxwell had served two terms on Worcester City Council as an elected member for Claines. He was elected in 1988 and held the seat until 1994, when he stood down because of work and family commitments. He was re-elected in the Claines ward in 2018.
Cllr Denlegh-Maxwell's family have local connections stretching back many years. Both his father and grandfather were parish priests in Worcester, while his mother was a magistrate on the Worcester Bench for 25 years.
His mother's family have lived in the area for many generations. His great-great-grandfather was John Corbett, who represented Droitwich in Parliament for 17 years in the Victorian era. A portrait of another ancestor, Sir John Pakington, is displayed in Worcester Guildhall.
