A COMMUNITY stalwart and former Warrant Officer in the Coldstream Guards has been given a lasting memorial by his friends and family.

Bramley resident Eric Gulston, who died in June of this year aged 83, insisted on no flowers at his funeral so his family decided a more lasting tribute was needed.

Last Sunday more than 50 people gathered at The Clift Meadow Pavilion, in Minchens Lane, Bramley – where Mr Gulston became caretaker in his retirement – to celebrate the installation of an engraved wooden bench in his memory.

The inscription includes Mr Gulston’s name and reads “from family and friends”, followed by the Coldstream Guards’ motto Nulli Secundus, which means “second to none”.

The inscription also includes “MM”, that stands for Military Medal, which Mr Gulston was awarded in 1949 for his bravery and leadership in the Malayan Emergency.

Mr Gulston’s widow, Eileen, who moved to Bramley with him 13 years ago, said: “I’m absolutely amazed how many people are here.

“Eric said he didn’t want flowers so I just gave him a single rose, and it was my daughter Carol who said how about putting a bench in the meadow for him.”

Mrs Gulston, who is treasurer of the trust, had the bench made by Baughurst woodworker Colin Hartshorn.

Although woodwork is a hobby for Mr Hartshorn, he agreed to make a bench especially for Mrs Gulston and surplus funds have gone towards a daffodil-planting project in the meadow.

The bench was paid for from some of the memorial donations, which were divided between the trust and the Gurkha Welfare Trust.

Hugh Tottenham, chairman of the Clift Meadow trust, said: “I can’t think of a better tribute to a man who was so community-minded.”

Mr Gulston served all over the world with the Coldstream Guards for more than 23 years, having joined during the Second World War, in 1943, and he was in northern Germany when the Germans surrendered in 1945.