Beloved council chair remembered with bench in County Durham park

The bench, in Chester-le-Street’s Riverside Park, has been created in memory of Councillor Beaty Bainbridge, who died during her term of office in February.

Cllr Bainbridge, who was elected as Chair of Durham County Council in May 2022, had served as a councillor since 2008, most recently representing the Chester-le-Street East division.

The town’s Riverside Park was a community resource that Cllr Bainbridge was particularly passionate about.

A bench paying tribute to Councillor Beaty Bainbridge, inset, has been unveiled in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)

She worked on several projects to develop the park, including the creation of a ‘fairy dell’, which will be renamed Beaty’s Fairy Dell in her memory.

A former shop assistant and health and safety officer, Cllr Bainbridge also owned her own business, Homespun Wool and Baby Clothes and served as a school governor.

Council officials and former colleagues joined Cllr Bainbridge’s family, including her husband Allan, and HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon, at a ceremony to unveil the commemorative bench.

Mrs Snowdon said: “Councillor Beaty Bainbridge was admired and respected for her contribution to Chester-le-Street (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL) was the true essence of duty. Warm and caring, she touched many lives and will be remembered, admired and respected for her enormous contribution to Chester-le-Street and the wider county. It is a great privilege to unveil the memorial bench. A most fitting tribute.”

A former pupil of Chester-le-Street Secondary Modern School, Cllr Bainbridge enjoyed spending time with her family and regularly visited Riverside Park with them. The bench has been sited in one of her favourite areas of the park, where she would often hold meetings.

A bench paying tribute to Councillor Beaty Bainbridge, inset, has been unveiled in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street (Image: DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL)

Pupils from nearby Red Rose Primary School, including two of Cllr Bainbridge’s great-grandchildren have planted bulbs in a flowerbed close to the bench, to create a spring display featuring snowdrops and crocuses.

Get more from The Northern Echo witha  digital subscription for just £4 for four months for a limited time only.

A memorial tree will also be planted within sight of the bench, as Cllr Bainbridge had been due to plant the King’s Oak for the Coronation before she passed away.

Current Chair of the council, Cllr Joan Nicholson, said: “Beaty worked tirelessly for her community and loved meeting Chester-le-Street’s residents.

“The park was one of her favourite places, so was the obvious choice to place a lasting tribute to her. She is much-missed by all who knew her and I hope this special place provides somewhere for people to go to sit and remember her.”