Sapper David Watson

David Watson lived in Whickham, and had a personal desire to be the best he could at whatever he was involved with. This desire led him to enlist in the British Army where he became a Royal Engineer, highly trained to deal with explosives.

Sadly, whilst deployed in Afghanistan, he was killed on 31st December 2009 in Sangin District of Helmand Province.

Thousands attended his funeral service in Whickham, and his name was respectfully recorded on the village war memorial.

No personal memorial exists for David, and so this funding-raising campaign has been created for the purchase, installation, and upkeep of a memorial bench in Chase Park, Whickham.

"David's Bench" will be a focal point for everyone in Whickham to remember this local hero.