A COMMUNITY champion is set to be memorialised with a bench and tree at the spot of one of his first victories.

Dr Bob Evans was a district councillor for 20 years and served on Witham Town Council.

The Labour stalwart died last month after suffering a stroke.

Town councillors have discussed installing the bench next to the former pond off Forest Road in Witham, close to where Dr Evans lived.

Friend and fellow councillor Phil Barlow said: “The fact that one of his earliest successes was getting a duck crossing sign put there, I just think it would be fitting.

“Unfortunately the ducks are now long gone but in terms of where Bob lived and where he represented most of his constituents I think that’s the place to be.”

The pond is known as an ‘ephemeral’ pond because it is empty for most of the year as it relies on the underlying water table.

There will be a memorial service for Dr Evans at St Nicolas’ Church in Chipping Hill on August 19 at 2.30pm.