
OUR DEDICATED TEAM
We have deliberately structured our business into three distinct departments, each working seamlessly together to ensure your experience is as comforting and effortless as possible.
The Office
Compassion and Coordination, Led by Grace
"As the Office Manager at Memorial Benches UK, my core role revolves around maintaining exceptionally high levels of customer service during what is often a sensitive time for our customers. I lead a dedicated team of three overseeing all aspects of the ordering process, from the initial contact to scheduling and managing deliveries. Above all I am committed to ensuring that each customer receives a truly empathetic and seamless service as they navigate ordering their memorial bench. The best part of my role is receiving customer feedback and seeing beautiful photographs of our memorial benches. Each photo and kind word is a powerful reminder of the lasting tributes we helped create."
Our office is the warm and welcoming heart of Memorial Benches UK, led by Grace, with invaluable support from Sheila and Wendy. We believe in good old-fashioned communication which is why, alongside emails and online chats, our telephones are always ringing with conversations, offering ample time to speak at length with you, your primary contact and even other family members who wish to be involved.
The team here orchestrates hundreds of timely deliveries nationwide each week, coordinating our cherished benches, each with its own personal story to tell. They are also your first point of contact for any logistical issues, always there on the end of the phone, ready to help. And for our existing customers, they are answering questions about maintaining memorial benches, securing them and resolving any issues you might have, always with a reassuring voice. They even welcome visitors to our showroom, offering personal appointments where you can truly experience the quality and comfort of our benches first hand, guiding you through the entire ordering process with care.
The Design Studio
Bringing Your Vision to Life, Led by James
"As Designer Manager at Memorial Benches UK, my role is centred on crafting personal and meaningful tributes that are carved into each bench and etched into each plaque. Every engraving begins with a story and I approach each design with the utmost care, respect and attention to detail. Whether it's a simple inscription or a custom design that reflects the personality of a loved one, my goal is to ensure the final result is both beautiful and lasting. Some messages are incredibly moving such as tributes for partners, parents and children which makes the responsibility all the more important. Knowing that my work becomes a lasting symbol of remembrance is both humbling and motivating. Seeing photos of finished benches that I have engraved and hearing from families about what the engraving means to them is by far the most rewarding part of what I do."
In our design studio, James is the creative force who transforms your heartfelt thoughts and ideas into tangible reality.
Utilising software developed specifically for helping create precise designs, and years of expertise, James works his magic to ensure all our bench engravings are clear, bold and perfectly convey the story you wish to tell. He has a remarkable ability to understand exactly what each client is looking for, consistently delivering beyond expectation.
James handles hundreds of engravings every week, not only with text but also by meticulously creating deeply personal images that capture hobbies, passions and unique memories.
Production
Crafting Perfection, Led by Paul
"As Warehouse Manager, I lead a dedicated team of three ensuring every order is meticulously prepared and sent to the highest standards. We take immense pride in knowing our work helps customers through significant life moments whether commemorating a loved one's passing or celebrating a life well lived. While some customer messages are difficult to read, especially those for young lives lost, they fuel our commitment to perfection, preventing further distress during already challenging times. Engaging directly with customers to understand their needs and the stories behind their personalised requests is a highlight of my role. Positive feedback is incredibly rewarding, motivating my team and me to consistently deliver our best."
Paul heads our production department, taking immense pride in ensuring every one of our stunning memorial benches leaves our warehouse in perfect condition. This is no small feat as hundreds of our treasured benches can be dispatched each week. Jamie and Harvey assist Paul, meticulously guiding each bench through our rigorous quality control checks.
Though time-consuming, every single one of our benches is traditionally constructed using robust mortise and tenon joinery with durable teak dowels. Each piece is fine-sanded and every brass plaque, stainless steel plaque and wood engraving is scrupulously checked against your written requirements before being prepared for dispatch. We operate with a simple philosophy that every bench leaves us in the same condition as if it were for one of our own family members. Nothing is ever too much for our clients.
ABOUT US
At Memorial Benches UK we understand that choosing a tribute for a loved one is more than just a transaction. It is a heartfelt act of remembrance, a step in preserving precious memories for generations to come. That's why we don't just supply exceptional memorial benches we offer a service built on genuine care, expert guidance and a profound desire to help you craft a truly memorable reminder, from our family to yours.
For 25 years we've walked alongside countless families helping them find comfort and create lasting legacies. We poured our hearts into building this business as a dedicated service, driven by the belief that every person deserves a beautiful and enduring tribute. Our team, at its core, is committed to supporting you through every step of this important journey offering advice that comes straight from the heart.
Our Story
In 2001 a tropical storm left owner Adam Thain stranded on the remote desert island of Karimunjawa, Indonesia where Adam met a local man who looked after him and helped him get back to the mainland. During this time the local man introduced Adam to his son-in-law who manufactured beautiful, reproduction mahogany and teak furniture. When Adam finally returned home a few weeks later he brought the idea of bespoke garden furniture home with him. Originally the business was set up as Wealden Fine Furniture and began manufacturing a range of bespoke, premium quality teak garden furniture, starting with a relatively local customer base. However he was able to expand the business and start supplying garden furniture to customers nationwide with the development of the internet. Business grew over the years and the range expanded from garden furniture to include kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and conservatory furniture, as well as memorial, bereavement and commemorative benches. At this point there were over 300 different items in our collection, all designed in-house.
When the recession hit, the decision was made to streamline the business, focusing solely on memorial benches going forward, as these were proving to be consistently popular with our customer base. So this is when Memorial Benches UK was officially born. As our customers’ needs changed, we changed with them, adapting our processes to meet our customers’ changing needs. Investing in a CNC computer engraving machines allowed us to personalise benches to meet customers’ specifications – whether they want a simple name, date, message or even an image. By investing in these machines we enabled ourselves to provide a consistently high level of customer service and a superior product, without having to increase our prices. Through a combination of our dedication to high quality, our ability to adapt to changing market conditions, having full control of the supply chain and understanding our customers’ requirements we have been able to grow Memorial Benches UK into the business it is today. Our small team at Memorial Benches UK work hard to offer a level of service over and above that set by our competitors by always listening to our customers. Our commitment to quality and service ensures that you receive a great product, competitively priced and delivered promptly. We have been manufacturing and supplying the UK market with Memorial Benches, since 2001. With hundreds of Memorial Benches always in stock we are able to supply our Benches nationwide in a matter of days. If you have any suggestions on how we can improve on our service or products, please contact us.