Family memorial destroyed at park
MHBG-21-02-13 Bob Mellis bench Carol Mellis (mum), Lisa Mellis (my younger sister, in the hood!), Xanthe & Kim Israel with the glasses on. That was Christmas Day.
A woman has spoken of her disappointment after a bench created in memory of her father was vandalised.
Kelly Israel and her family spent about £300 to place a lasting memorial at Burton Dassett Country Park for Robert Mellis, who died in February 2011 from motor neurone disease at the age of 63.
Mrs Israel went up to the park with her family last Thursday on what was the second anniversary of Mr Mellis’ death, only to find the bench was not there.
She said: “We all go up each year as we spent a lot of time there with my dad when we were younger, and we were absolutely devastated when the bench had gone.
“We were told by the park that when we had the really bad snow, someone had used it as a winch to get a vehicle out. Now it is destroyed and in pieces.
“We’re glad it hasn’t been stolen but we’re disappointed that whoever did this didn’t phone the park and let them know.”
The family will now have to pay to replace the bench as they were told by the park it did not cover vandalism in its insurance policy.
Craig Earl, senior park ranger, said: “During the heavy snow, somebody drove off the main road to access part of the park and got stuck.
“They used the bench as a winch and destroyed it.
“We had to remove it from the park as it wasn’t safe and are currently in talks with the family and Mrs Israel.”
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Weather for Banbury
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 26 mph
Wind direction: North
