Framlingham vet Alastair Douglas memorial bench vandalised

The bench, a memorial to former Framlingham vet Alastair Douglas, stands near a farmer's field close to the B1119 Saxmundham Road.

However, earlier this week, the seat was thrown into a nearby pond after vandals had managed to break brackets that held the bench down on concrete.

READ MORE: Bench placed in memory of well-loved local vet thrown into pond by vandals

The bench was targeted on a previous occasion in April 2021, although this time local residents have since been able to pull the memorial out of the pond and restore it to its rightful position.

Mr Douglas was well known in Framlingham before his death in 2014.

He performed surgery on small animals, and later in his career, pigs; starting the second ‘pig only’ veterinary practice in the UK.

Alastair Douglas was a well-loved vet in Framlingham (Image: The Douglas family)Posters on a Framlingham community Facebook page slammed the "appalling behaviour" of the crime's perpetrators.

One said: "That's really sad for the family. The question is surely why would anyone want to do such a thing. Never thought I would hear of such an act anywhere near Framingham."

READ MORE: Framlingham news

Following the previous incident in 2021, Mr Douglas' wife Janet spoke about how popular the bench was.

She said at the time: "When my husband died, which was seven years ago last week, I had an oak bench made and had it placed where we used to walk.

"It's been there for seven years, happily sat there. I've had loads of people say they've been sat there."

She added: "It's liked by everybody. Because he was such a popular person I think that's what has shocked everyone.

"I've had people ringing. It's a nasty, nasty thing happening."