Shuttington Playing Field Bench, installed in April 2017
Communities are not just born, they are grown. They begin with the design of man to construct buildings, dwellings and roads. However, without people they are simply that. Buildings, dwellings and roads. It is only when we inhabit those areas, communities begin to form. And communities strive and continue to exist only because of those people that work at it, water it, nurture it, prune it and pass on those skills and wisdom to the upcoming generations.
Shuttington began that journey nearly 1000 years ago and it is only because of that continued spirit of community that the village still exists and thrives today. Whether it is those from Shuttington who lost their lives in the wars, or helped to run our local old schools, or built and shaped the housing, protected our church, sat on councils to protect the interests of its parishioners or simply took time out of their day to walk around with a four-legged friend and meet their fellow walkers with cheer and banter, it is important to remember.
The new bench on top of the mound in the village field is hopefully a place for everyone to do that. To think, contemplate, remember, give thanks and hopefully to smile. To ensure Shuttington is still a community in another 1000 years.