'Devastation' as memorial bench for 12-year-old girl vandalised and plaque stolen

It happened recently in Earlsdon



A memorial bench for a 12-year-old girl who died nearly forty years ago in Coventry has been vandalised. A bench dedicated to the memory of Sarah Hinde has been in the same spot on Fife Road in Earlsdon since 1988.

But her family and loved ones have been left 'devastated' after the bench was damaged and a panel of wood bearing the memorial plaque stolen.

Sarah, who attended Aldermoor Callow Secondary School, died in a road accident. In the wake of her death, a bench was commissioned as a way to keep her memory alive. But a heartless act of vandalism has left Sarah's loved ones heartbroken.

The bench had recently been replaced after the original became weather damaged. The initial plaque was transferred to a new bench which had been made by Sarah's father from a pew taken from the former Hearsall Baptist Church, where Sarah's beloved 16th Coventry South Girl Guides had been based.

Pat Thomas, who was Sarah's guides leader and is still in the role now, spoke to CoventryLive about the vandalism.

"We could see the back of the bench had been completely ripped off," she said: "The plaque was on the backrest, the part you lean against, and it’s completely gone. That whole section of wood is missing. It’s heart breaking.

"To find it vandalised like this is devastating. You just want to ask, why? Why would someone do this? What possible reason could there be? It makes absolutely no sense. It’s mindless."

It is hoped that raising awareness of the vandalism and theft will lead to the guilty party to come forward. The plaque which has gone missing reads: "In memory of Sarah Hinde 1976 - 1988 a fun living true girl guide joyfully remembered at Hearsall."