School benches stolen and returned within an hour in Southmead
Badock’s Wood Academy had some colourful benches, described as ‘expensive’ taken by a man on Tuesday July 10. Within an hour Mark Lawrence the owner of the Bristol Combat gym managed to locate them and return them safely. The school are ecstatic with this, and say its an example of the real community spirit at the heart of the Southmead estate.
The search was on and there was a barrage of community responses - with people saying they had spotted a man near the Pegasus pub dragging a bench along.
The owner of the Bristol Combat Gym, that sits on the site of the former Southmead boxing club, put out a reward on his facebook page.
Mark Lawrence, a 31-year-old who was born and raised in the area, sent a plea out to the community and a reward to find them. He said: “I wanted to help out, and thought if I offered free sessions at our place it might do the job. I was hopeful, but didn't expect a response so quick. Within an hour someone got in contact with me.
Two people who wish to remain anonymous contacted Mark and brought the benches back to him.
To make things even more remarkable a man, who he has never met before, was driving passed in his van and saw Mark with the benches. He pulled over and offered to take them back up to the school.
Local councillor in Southmead Helen Godwin said: "The sense of community in Southmead is famously strong.
"People here have always pulled together to look after and support each other, and to fight for their community and assets.
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