Red bench marks runner's recovery from heart attack
BBCA park bench is usually installed in memory of someone who has died, but the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is turning that idea on its head by unveiling red benches to celebrate the "living memory" of people who have survived a cardiovascular condition.
One of those benches now sits in Southall Park, west London, a spot chosen by Bill Lonsdale who describes himself as a "park runner, former athlete, heart attack survivor – and ready to go again".
The benches also mark BHF's 65th anniversary, with 65 installed across the UK, six of which can be found in London.
Since his heart attack, the 74-year-old has completed 25 marathons and is now preparing for the 2026 London Marathon to raise money for the charity.
His bench engraving captures that determination: "The running man with miles and miles ahead."
In October 2017, just days after running a marathon, Lonsdale suffered a heart attack while simply carrying a cup of coffee up the stairs.
He told BBC London: "The first cardiologist that saw me said, 'Mr Lonsdale, you've run your last marathon'.
"Then, the next morning after I'd had the stent fitted, a more enlightened cardiologist, who was also a runner, said, 'Of course you'll be fine – your background has saved you'."
Lonsdale said he had "absolutely no indication that something was coming". His condition was later diagnosed as a genetic disorder called familial hypercholesterolaemia, which causes cholesterol to build up in the arteries.
"As soon as I got through cardiac rehab and was allowed to get back to running, I was back to running," he said.
The "living memory" benches aim to start conversations about heart health, at a time when someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease every three minutes.
Lonsdale chose Southall Park as the location for his bench, describing it as a place close to his heart as a regular at Parkrun, which partners with the BHF.
He added: "It's great to get people together – community support, mental health support and also the physical activity."
Southall also has a large South Asian population, a group that is statistically at greater risk of developing heart conditions.
Emily McGrath, a senior cardiac nurse at the charity, said: "We do understand that this group is more likely to have type two diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as high cholesterol.
"These risk factors put somebody at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease."
Kuldip, a volunteer at Southall Parkrun, said the benches were "a really good way of reminding everyone how important it is to look after yourselves".
He added: "We are really pleased to have this bench placed in Southall in recognition of Bill's recovery from his heart attack."
Lonsdale also shared a message for those looking to improve their heart health.
"Prevention is always better than cure," he said. "One of the major things to help you not suffer from cardiac conditions is to get plenty of exercise, eat properly, and look into parkrun.
"Do come along to parkrun, join in at your own pace – as fast as you like, as slow as you like – but get as much exercise as you can because it really is a protective mechanism."
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