Old school friends came from the other side of the world to unveil a special friendship bench.

Twenty-five ex-pupils from the class of 1955 at West Leigh School, Ronald Hill Grove, Leigh, flew in from New Zealand and Canada to pay tribute to a sailor and boat maker with a carved bench in the school's playground.

Derek Chardin, 58, company director of Hunter Boats, Rochford, died just a month after last year's school reunion.

Mr Chardin's wife, Gloria, 59, said: "I think his school friends are absolutely wonderful and this bench will be lovely for the children of the school to enjoy in the future."

Published Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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