Life of Lucas Briscoe celebrated with bench unveiled in Knutsford

Lucas Briscoe died in Spain on August 20, 2019, after tragically falling from a balcony at an apartment in the Costa Del Sol resort of Fuengirola. He was just 12 years old.

But to commemorate the two-year anniversary of his death, a special bench in The Moor has been commissioned to celebrate the former Knutsford Rugby Club player’s life.

Many friends and family members of all ages gathered to watch the unveiling of the sculpture that celebrates Lucas – who went to St Nicholas Catholic High School in Hartford – and his many talents.

His mum, Nicola Marshall, who lives Knutsford, couldn’t be more pleased to see so many people out to celebrate his life.

“The event was to bring this amazing bench for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

“Lucas was always looking out for other people, he wanted to make sure people were always ok, looked after and happy.

Lucas Briscoe's memory will live on through the bench in the Moor

“He didn’t like bullying and he wrapped his wings around a lot of people. Today is about bringing everyone together and to show that we all love and care for each other. It isn’t difficult to send a smile or a wave.

“That bench will just bring so many people just to sit, chill, relax and just enjoy the beautiful world that we live in because we are so lucky to be alive.”

Nicola, from Lostock Gralam, chose The Moor as it’s somewhere Lucas has visited since he was a little boy.

“He always loved the park, the fields and the lake. Whenever he was in the park, if there was a child on their own, he would always ask them to join him or if they were sad he would leave his friends and go and play with that child. It’s exactly what he did when he was in school.”

Some of the details on Lucas' bench at The Moor

Nicola, who is going to do a psychology degree to become a therapist, continued: “I can see there is a boy here today that I know didn’t have a great time at school and Lucas basically looked after him and it’s so lovely to see him here today.

“He was just such a kind, caring and talented boy.

“For me, the best story is on one of the first days of high school, there was a little boy who was handicapped. He went straight up to him and said ‘hi, I’m Lucas, nice to meet you, what’s your name and how can I help you?'

“From that day on he looked after that boy on breaks and lunches.”

“I’ll be here most days. For me, I can feel the energy from it and the love that comes from it. Andy Burgess knew Lucas so there was so much love and emotion.”

And Andy Burgess, a wood sculptor from Mobberley, helped turn Nicola’s imagination into reality.

Nicola gave a speech at the event with Andy - Picture: Rebecca Hartley

He was known Nicola for four or five years through school and was asked to create a bespoke bench in memory of Lucas with her friend Fiona Barnes.

“It’s been a long process over the last year to 18 months to formulate how we would go about best-representing parts of his life in a way that would sit nicely in the Moor,” Andy said.

“It’s an honour to be asked really, it’s really nice that I am able to do something for the local community as well. With it being such an important, very, very bespoke commission for her to commemorate her son, it was very nice to be asked.”

There are lots of specific details on the bench that tell different parts of Lucas’ life.

Andy continued: “He was a really good rugby player, he was at Knutsford hence their crest. He was into his acting and his singing so there is references there with the microphone and the masks.

“There is a couple of recess stages because it was important for Nicola that little kids would come and interact with the bench, knocking on the door and playing with the steps. She wants people, young and old, to surround themselves in it.

“‘Share and care’ is a very important part of the bench because she wanted it to be a place where kids can chat with each other and helped each other out as Lucas would do that. He was a very caring lad that would look after others.”