Photos of Lyra & Will's bench from the Botanic Garden

[Enitharmon]

Obviously, you are entitled to your opinion on the matter, but it is my opinion that it is fairly rude and ignorant to dismiss a person's expression of self like that.

No, it's not a personal opinion. Well, it is but that's less important than my perspective as a one-time chair of a big city planning committee, which had to find the funds to clean up the mess.

[SoulLily]

Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with the carving on the bench. On the one hand, it's simple and it shows that one regular person, not specifically anyone with great artistic talent, was moved by the story and really felt it, as mentioned earlier. On the other hand, it's rather larga and obvious and... I don't know. Something small and more subtle would've been nicer, I think.

[Peter]

Weren't we once, a long time ago, going to get together and try to get the OU authorities to let us put up a plaque or something similar?

... I suppose it'd get nicked ...

[Enitharmon]

Weren't we once, a long time ago, going to get together and try to get the OU authorities to let us put up a plaque or something similar?

... I suppose it'd get nicked ...

And didn't we decide that we couldn't usurp Jane Tomkinson and Mary Menteath, whose bench it was first? Weren't we going to appoint them honorary sraffies?

This is a book, after all, which calls on us to show some respect for the dead...

[Peter]

Weren't we once, a long time ago, going to get together and try to get the OU authorities to let us put up a plaque or something similar?

... I suppose it'd get nicked ...

And didn't we decide that we couldn't usurp Jane Tomkinson and Mary Menteath, whose bench it was first? Weren't we going to appoint them honorary sraffies?

This is a book, after all, which calls on us to show some respect for the dead...

I wouldn't want to replace their plaque - just put up another one nearby.

[Mogget]

Weren't we once, a long time ago, going to get together and try to get the OU authorities to let us put up a plaque or something similar?

... I suppose it'd get nicked ...

And didn't we decide that we couldn't usurp Jane Tomkinson and Mary Menteath, whose bench it was first? Weren't we going to appoint them honorary sraffies?

This is a book, after all, which calls on us to show some respect for the dead...

I wouldn't want to replace their plaque - just put up another one nearby.

It's actually a really good idea. Seeing as HDM is practically canon in a lot of Oxford, I don't think it would be excessively difficult to get something small with Will's and Lyra's names on it put up there. Also, I think it would stop people from feeling the need to scribble all over a perfectly good bench.

Appointing Jane Tomkinson and Mary Menteath as honorary sraffies isn't a bad idea either.

[Australis]

It sounds like the bench is renewed fron time to time; in the New Yorker article by Laura Miller (Dec 26, 2005) "Far From Narnia", PP is quoted as saying: "Once I saw something...It turned out to be a little wooden heart with 'For Will and Lyra' written on it. Isn't that nice?" Mind you, it's not specified that it was THE bench.

I like the idea of a plaque. Those who come across it without realising its significance, may be moved to find out. Nothing wrong with that, and the bench is big enough to share with Jane and Mary.

[Townie]

I've been down there a couple of times and although there really is no arguement for graffiti (unless used by some resistence movement etc) I did get a warm glow from the scrawlings. I suppose I felt a comforting fraternity with the culprits. On the second occassion I left a little note on a bit of paper and put it on the arm rest with a stone on it. I suppose it probably ~*iguana*~ someone off, but at least it was temporary.

[sfsraffie]

.

[Acchon]

If I ever visit england, I'm gonna visit that park. And I am gonna cry my eyes out. Gosh, can't believe how sensitive I am. Just finished the last book today.

[Acchon]

I think it could be romantic if it weren't hacked into the bench. Sharpie maybe, or smoother carving (which granted takes a lot more time, but if you're that obsessed, it oughtn't matter). If it were beautiful graffiti, I'd like it. But it's not.

I think it creates a sort of simple aura to it, as if it was carved in there when they both where present

[Philharmonic]

OH MY GOD! Pullman does his research. I checked up his account of Metatron in my mother's bible, and the book says Metatron was once Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalalel. Damn right! I can trace Metatron back to Adam now!

[two_worlds]

Oh all of those places and especially the bench in the botanic garden are just wonderful. I never new such places exist. And now I even was able to take a look at Lyras and Wills bench in in this virtual tour. What a great idea to create something like this!
8 years ago I was in England aswell(with my class) but I didn´t know the books at this time.

All I can say is, that I definitely would cry if I was in this garden.

To the graffiti stuff: Well my opinion towards this is that the bench should remain in its original state. So basically I am not against graffiti or anything but in this case it just does not fit.