Stonemasons build memorial bench on Portland to honour runner

Adam Kirby, 22, who works for a building company in Dorchester, has been working alongside his friend Cameron Rocks to build the seat to honour Steve Woodward following a suggestion from a resident.

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Mr Woodward, a loving dad, brother, son and husband, died aged 32 on February 12 last year.

Cameron Rocks (left) and Adam Kirby (right) have built a bench to commorate a local runner, pictures: Richard Mulholland

Mr Kirby said: “I decided to create this bench in tribute to a local man who often ran in the area and in honor of the mental health charity Mind.

“I did not know the runner personally, it was an idea suggested by a woman on Portland who saw me building my first bench and said I need to build one for people to sit on.

“She is a member of a running club and said this man had passed away and he always ran along that stretch of coast.”

Despite not knowing the man personally, the duo began collaborating to build the seat which is located on the eastern side of the island down the trail from Portland Bill.

Memorial bench on Portland in honour of Steve P Woodward, picture: Richard Mulholland

Mr Kirby’s first bench was constructed during lockdown and while this memorial one took a similar amount of hours to complete it was spread out over a longer period.

The stonemason continued: “Originally during the Covid-19 pandemic, I had some spare time and thought I would build a bench to keep me busy and that took about two weeks.

“This one took a while longer than the other one because I was doing it in my spare time and I had been going up there for some time doing it.”

Mr Kirby also opted to build the bench in honour of Mind because he says they do ‘some great work in the area so it is a good charity to support, they remedy something that has always existed’.

Mr Kirby obtained his skills as a stonemason and bricklayer while working for Stockley Builders in Dorchester, which he is very grateful for.

He added: “All the skill I have learned to create this bench came from working for Trevor Stockley because he gave me the gift to build so I’d like to thank him.”

A spokesperson for the Royal Manor of Portland Athletics Club said: "Steven Paul Woodward was one of our club members and running coaches.

"It was the idea of Caron Stevens,  one of our runners who was taking part in the London Marathon in the October to use her fundraising to raise money for a bench in Stevens memory. 

"He loved to run the Portland trails and coastal paths and they wanted a bench where people could stop and rest and take in the views. 

"Lindsay another one of our club members had a contact of a local chap who had built a stone no bench and between them organised him to build this one for Steven."