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To galvanize the community spirit of Rotherham, two local companies have joined forces to create a series of commemorative benches for residents to enjoy.

Memorial bench specialists, Roll and Scroll sought the expertise of East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd earlier this year, when tasked to design and fabricate a series of benches – each with special meaning and dedication.

Chris Kennedy, Managing Director at Roll and Scroll, said: “It was an absolute honour to be asked by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to create three benches – one dedicated to late Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year reign, another commemorating our hardworking NHS staff, and the final one in remembrance of all those that we lost to Covid-19.

“We knew how important these would be to the local community and wanted to ensure they would remain in immaculate condition, able to be enjoyed by many for years to come. Due to this, we enlisted the support of our friends over at East Anglian Galvanizing to future-proof the benches.”

All three benches were hot dipped into the galvanizing plant’s molten zinc bath at around 450C, allowing for a metallurgic bond to be formed which protects the steel from rust and corrosion for up to 70 years.

“As a permanent fixture outside Kimberworth library, we knew we had to carefully select an appropriate finish that could effectively withstand the elements,” Chris continued.

“For decorative purposes as specified by the customer, we also finished the benches by edge priming and etch painting, spraying them when they returned from the galvanizing plant. Each colour palette was carefully chosen to further enhance their special meanings – for example, NHS blue; black and gold for the Jubilee dedication; and finally, the Covid-19 bench was painted black.”

The benches were installed this summer, and available for use from July.

Jake Pinner, Sales Manager at East Anglian Galvanizing, concluded: “It was an absolute honour to be involved in galvanizing these beautiful benches. Not only are they physically a spectacle, but the significant sentiments behind them is incredibly heart-warming, and it’s a great privilege to have played a key role in ensuring they are fit for purpose long-term and available for the local community to enjoy for the foreseeable future.”

East Anglian Galvanizing Ltd is part of Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd, the largest hot-dip galvanizing organisation in the UK with a history dating back over 150 years. With 14 plants strategically placed across the country, the firm offers a truly national galvanizing service.

By Wedge Group Galvanizing Ltd

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