Barber B memorial bench in Leeds offers people 'feel the love' invite

Brian Swarray died in 2023 following a brain tumour diagnosis

The family of a well-known barber who cut the locks of sports stars and celebrities have installed a bench inviting passers-by to "sit down and feel the love" in his honour.

Brian Swarray died in September 2023, aged 50, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour two years earlier.

Known as Barber B, his hair designs attracted clientele such as boxers Josh Warrington and Nicola Adams.

His family unveiled the bench at Potternewton Park in Leeds on Saturday.

Mr Swarray, who ran Piranha Hair Studio in Leeds, started cutting hair after finding his first pair of clippers in a skip.

Decades later, he had become a much-loved member of the community, his family said.

They said raising money for a memorial bench was their way of "remembering the good times" and giving something back.

The bench has been adorned with a plaque that invites passers-by to "sit down here and feel the love"

Cheryl Moore told BBC Look North it was "important" for the family to have something to commemorate her brother, "because he is a massive loss to us all".

The bench overlooks the park where Mr Swarray played with his siblings as children and ran with them as adults.

His sister Mari Moore said at each bench, they would stop and "either do triceps dips or squats by the benches".

"So now I'll just be able to think of my brother and how amazing he was and how loved he was by everybody - and still is," she said.

Mr Swarray's siblings Cheryl, Paul and Mari Moore unveiled the bench on Saturday

The bench has been adorned with a plaque that invites passers-by to "sit down here and feel the love".

Mr Swarray's brother Paul Moore said it was "quite therapeutic to sit down when it's quiet and just gather your thoughts".

"It's just sit down and feel the love and that's it," he said.

"Every and anybody can come down and sit down and take a moment."