A poignant ceremony was held on Pakefield seafront as friends and family gathered to unveil two memorial benches in honour of three local men who shared a deep connection with the sea. Set into a seaward-facing recess near the beach huts on Grand Avenue, close to Dean’s Beans Coffee Shop, the benches pay tribute to Alec Thompson, and father and son Derick and Paul Cole. Janet Ellis, speaking at the unveiling, said: “These two lovely seats are for the Pakefield community to enjoy, with a view of the beautiful North Sea, beach and cliffs.
“They honour the memory of Alec, Derick and Paul - three special men we remember with love.” A caption on a memorial bench on Pakefield seafront honours Alec Thompson. (Image: Mick Howes) The benches were made possible thanks to donations from local businesses, including Birds Eye, Harrods, and Regal Tanks of Beccles.
Special thanks were also given to Marjorie Edith Beaumont - affectionately known as ‘Mebs’ - and her son Mark, who played a key role in bringing the memorial to life. Ms Beaumont explained the site’s rich history, noting that it once hosted fishermen’s huts before being replaced with beach huts - some originally surplus from Pontins. “It’s a site that remains well used to this day,” she said.
A caption on a memorial bench on Pakefield seafront honoring father and son Derick and Paul Cole. (Image: Mick Howes) Alec Thompson, she recalled, was a carpenter who worked at Eastern Coachworks, Birds Eye and Sizewell.
