A bench commemorating the platinum jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth has taken pride of place in an award-winning park in Stafford.

Mayor of Stafford Borough, Councillor Philip Leason and Mayoress Edith Leason, donated the new seating which has been installed at the town’s Victoria Park.

The furniture is decorated with the royal crest with the words ‘The Queens Platinum Jubilee’ and the years ‘1952 to 2022’ carved out.

The Mayor and Mayoress decided to have the new bench commissioned when they realised they would be in the unique position of presiding over a platinum jubilee and a royal coronation in their year-long term of office. They paid for the bench out of their own pocket.

The seating is situated between the popular carpet bed and the bowling green. And the Mayor and Mayoress will be purchasing another bench to mark the coronation of His Majesty, King Charles lll.

Councillor Leason, said: “I was inaugurated as Mayor in May 2022 and within the first few weeks we were privileged to have shared such wonderful events with residents throughout the borough to honour Queen Elizabeth ll - and then later that year shared in the sadness we all felt when our beloved monarch passed away.

“And I will still be the Mayor when His Majesty, The King, is coronated in May - with my term of office expiring just a few days later.”

He added: “I wanted to mark this very special Mayoral year by providing something in Victoria Park which would be a lasting reminder of this historic 12 months - and I hope the seating will be well used and allow people the opportunity to remember our late Queen.”

Press Release No 6007