After many months of fundraising, the Midsomer Norton Society have raised the necessary funds for a bench in memory of local historian and teacher, Norman Voake.

The Society had already received hundreds of pounds in donations from local people who knew and loved Norman, but to reach the final target they held a fundraising concert on the 9th December.

Despite the concert raising further funds, there still remained an additional £100 to complete the target. Somehow, hearing of the Society’s hopes to reach £800, an anonymous benefactor handed over the remaining balance in cash this week, to the delight and appreciation of the fundraising team.

The money will be used to install a bench in the St Chad’s Well Memorial Garden at the top of the Island in Midsomer Norton – recently acquired by the Midsomer Norton Town Trust, of which the Town Council is Corporate Trustee.

“On behalf of the town, I’d like to thank the Society for their fundraising efforts, and to all those who gave money so generously to this project. It’s particularly fitting that ‘Norman’s bench’ will be in St Chad’s Well, for three reasons.

Paul Myers, Mayor of Midsomer Norton, said: “Firstly, it’s close to Somervale School, where he worked as a teacher for so many years and shaped hundreds of young people’s lives – many of whom now have children themselves. Secondly, it is a location linked to the town’s heritage, and so in tune with his passion for local history. Finally, it is a lovely calm setting next to the River Somer, which Norman would have been so glad to see restored, and I like to think, would feel honoured that the public could sit on a bench in his memory and enjoy it.”

All that remains now is for the funds to be presented by the Midsomer Norton Society to the Town Council in early January 2018, so that work can commence to install the bench.