Mother says memorial bench 'has brought son home'

Mandy Hall says she wants her son's story to help other men struggling with their mental health

The mother of a man who took his own life has said a bench carved from a tree, on the site where he died, "has brought him home to her".

Lee Waddington was 39 when he died at woodland owned by Severn Trent Water at Wanlip in Leicestershire in June 2021.

The water company said they discovered tributes to him when they had to cut down trees at the treatment works and decided to commission a memorial bench for him after consulting his family.

Mandy Hall, Mr Waddington's mother, from Syston, said she hoped publicising her son's story would help other men seek help if they were struggling with their mental health.

Lee Waddington's family described him as a "beautiful person"

Ms Hall said: "To me it [the bench] brings Lee home. It will be my go to place now because this was Lee's go to place.

"It's sad but beautiful and happy at the same time."

She said she hoped talking about her son's experiences would encourage other men to seek help for mental health issues.

"It was sad circumstances when he passed, he suffered terribly with mental health," Ms Hall said.

"You can't express enough that men need help and have got to learn to cry and let go now and again.

"Talk and ask for help. The more men that this touches the better."

She added she will sit on the bench and remember happy memories with her son.

"It will help me deal with my mental health because I've been holding it in for four years, I've not grieved him yet," she said.

"I can come and sit with him in the evenings, talk to him, shout at him and love him."

Sculptor Andrew Frost said he wanted to keep the rustic quality of the ash tree

The bench, which features carvings of oak leaves, was made by wood sculptor Andrew Frost, from Wirksworth in Derbyshire, who said he wanted "to keep the rustic quality of the ash tree".

Mr Waddington's sister Samantha Waddington, 40, said: "It's absolutely beautiful what Severn Trent have done for us.

"He was like my dad growing up, my protector. He adored his children, he adored his wife, he was just a beautiful person."

His other sister Sarah Waddington, 41, added: "He suffered with his mental health but we didn't really see that one coming.

"It's very important for men to know that they can go somewhere and be able to open up."

Mr Waddington's sisters Sarah, left, Samantha, right, and mother Mandy Hall say the bench commissioned by Severn Trent is "absolutely beautiful"

Helen Purdy, community communications officer, Severn Trent, said contractors found some personal items at the site, so they knew "it was significant to somebody".

"With the power of the internet we managed to trace the family and I got in touch with them and talked about what had happened," she said.

"Andrew made this beautiful bench and I hope it's somewhere they can sit and remember happier times. It's beautiful, a real fitting tribute."

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