Ian Dury has a bench in Richmond Park, at King Henry’s Mound.
The Mound has a direct line of sight to St. Paul’s Cathedral to the east and uninterrupted views of the home counties to the west. The view across London has been protected from interference by new building through royal decree since Henry VIII stood there in 1536 to see a rocket launched from the Tower, confirming that Anne Boleyn had been executed and he was free to marry Jane Seymour.
It was Ian Dury’s favourite place to sit and reflect. Dury was the leader of the Blockheads, unlikely pop stars of the punk and new wave era.
When he passed away, a wooden bench was installed in his honour. In the arms are two headphone jacks and two solar panels. If you plug your headphones into the left arm, you can hear his appearance on BBC Radio’s Desert Island Discs. The right arm plays a selection of his music.
The parlour game, since its installation twenty years ago, has been “which other Londoners merit a bench?” Personal opinion: David Bowie. Ray Davies.
And Mark Hollis. Lead singer, songwriter, of Talk Talk. Five group albums, one solo. Barely sight nor sound in 21 years.