In 2016, fans of Alan Rickman initiated a crowdfunding campaign to establish a memorial bench in his honour. The goal was to place the bench in London’s Kensington Gardens, engraved with one of Rickman’s quotes, providing a space for fans to reflect and pay their respects.
The campaign was led by Joanna Parker, who set up a JustGiving page to collect donations. The fundraising effort received significant support from fans worldwide, raising £2,032.29 from 62 supporters. Notably, a substantial donation from a supporter named Sarah from the USA helped meet the funding target.
The Rickman family was consulted and gave their support to the idea, with approval of the final chosen quote. The bench was dedicated with the help of the Royal Parks Foundation, the charity for London’s eight Royal Parks. The funds raised not only covered the bench’s construction and installation but also contributed to the maintenance of the park.
The memorial bench was completed and placed in Kensington Gardens, serving as a lasting tribute to the beloved actor.
”It would be wonderful to think that the future is unknown and sort of surprising” Alan Rickman
The location of the bench is shown by a circle in the photo (Kensington Gardens, the Flower Walk, near the Albert Memorial):
