Cycle Route Portrait Bench - Earlsheaton, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 41.172 W 001° 37.189
30U E 591146 N 5949493
This portrait bench is on a 'rails to trails' cycling and walking route between the towns of Dewsbury and Ossett.
Waymark Code: WM11HVK
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/29/2019
Views: 2
"Sustrans' Portrait Bench series is a national public art project that is unique to each local area. Communities across the UK are nominating local people to become the figures on their local Portrait Bench. When complete there will be a national collection of over 230 portraits.
The benches are part of a national Sustrans project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, delivering new walking and cycling routes that bring the National Cycle Network into the heart of communities across the UK."
link
Sustrans is a national charity that works with local council to promote and develop safe cycling and walking routes.
THe silhouettes of these portraits are not solid, but have holes which give a contrast of light and dark areas of the portrait.
This particular route is called the Dewsbury to Ossett Greenway and although the main route connects the two towns it also has a side route to Saville Town. This route follows former railway routes, but also forms part of nation routes 69 and 699.
The portraits are near a junction with the two trails and so there is a choice of destinations here.
A nearby information route has details of the 3 local individuals honoured with the portraits.
Dave Sykes
In 2011 Dave, an Earlsheaton resident and paraplegic, became the first person to fly solo in a microlight from England to Australia. His challenging 16,000 miles flight over remote landscapes, seas and deserts celebrated Amy Johnson's solo flight to Australia in 1930. This inspirational flight raised money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity.
Eddie Waring
Born in Dewsbury, Eddie was a Rugby League coach, journalist, commentator and television personality. He supported the expansion of Rugby League and his entertaining commentaries on television helped to make this northern game popular. Eddie was famous for his catch phrase "it's an up and under!" describing a rugby tactic.
Brian Robinson
A local Ravensthorpe man, Brian was a pioneer professional cyclist. In 1955 he was the first Brit to finish Tour de France, and later the first to win Tour Stages. British Pro racing cyclists still consider him an inspiration. The 120km/75 mile Brian Robinson Challenge cycle sportive is named after him.