The Johnny Morrison Memorial Bench
Posted on May 29, 2026
Some memorial benches are placed in parks.
Some are positioned beside lakes, beneath trees, or overlooking landscapes that held special meaning to a loved one.
And then there are memorial benches like this one.
Installed outside The Punter pub on Osney Island in Oxford, this handcrafted York bench was created in memory of Johnny Morrison — a founding member of Oxford Cycling Club, a devoted husband and father, and by all accounts, one of those rare people who leave a lasting impression on everyone they meet.
Crafted by Woodcraft UK from solid iroko hardwood, the bench bears a simple inscription:
JOHNNY MORRISON 1971 – 2025
FOREVER IN THE OCC BUNCH
The words may be brief, but behind them sits an extraordinary story.
A Friend, Clubmate and Founding Member
Johnny Morrison was one of the founding members of Oxford Cycling Club when it was established in 2016.
From the club's earliest days until his return to his native Australia in 2022, he became a familiar face on rides throughout Oxfordshire and at countless social gatherings afterwards.
Reading through the tributes shared by fellow riders, a picture quickly emerges of someone who was not only respected as a cyclist, but deeply loved as a friend.
Clubmates describe him as kind, funny, thoughtful, generous and endlessly welcoming. He was someone who helped new riders find their place within the club, someone who looked after others on group rides, and someone whose company people genuinely looked forward to.
One tribute described him as "a wheel in the bunch you could always trust."
Another spoke of his ability to make everyone feel included, whether they had known him for years or had only just met him.
When Johnny passed away on 12 November 2025, the loss was felt not only by his family and friends in Australia, but by an entire cycling community spread across two continents.
The Punter and the Saturday Tradition
The location of the bench is no coincidence.
The Punter, situated beside the Oxford Canal on Osney Island, had become one of Oxford Cycling Club's favourite meeting places after Saturday rides.
Like many cycling clubs, the ride itself was only part of the story.
The coffee stops, conversations, post-ride drinks and shared laughs are often where lifelong friendships are formed.
According to the club, Johnny would regularly be found outside The Punter after rides, sitting in the sunshine with a pint of lager, surrounded by friends and keeping everyone entertained with stories and banter.
Those moments became such a defining part of club life that after his passing, members approached The Punter with an idea.
The old bench beside the pub entrance had seen better days.
Why not replace it with a new one dedicated to Johnny?
The management agreed immediately and plans were set in motion to create a lasting tribute.
Through a fundraising campaign supported by friends, clubmates and supporters, enough money was raised not only to commission the bench but to create something that genuinely reflected the man it was intended to remember.
More Than a Memorial Bench
What makes this project particularly special is the addition of a QR code discreetly fitted to the bench itself.
Visitors sitting on the bench can scan the code with their phone and instantly access a dedicated page on the Oxford Cycling Club website explaining who Johnny was and why the bench exists.
It's a small detail, but a powerful one.
Traditionally, memorial benches tell a story through a few carefully chosen words carved into timber.
This bench goes a step further.
The QR code transforms the bench from a simple memorial into a living story that people can discover for themselves.
A passer-by who never knew Johnny can sit down, scan the code, and within moments find themselves reading tributes from friends, learning about Oxford Cycling Club and understanding why this particular bench matters.
In a world where so much information disappears into social media feeds and digital archives, it is a thoughtful way of connecting a physical place with the memories and people behind it.
Built to Last
The bench itself is a classic Woodcraft York Bench featuring flat arms and a curved top rail, handcrafted from durable iroko hardwood.
Chosen for its strength, longevity and natural beauty, iroko is particularly suited to outdoor environments where furniture is expected to withstand years of use and changing weather.
And this bench will certainly be used.
The photographs tell their own story.
Cyclists gathering after a ride.
Friends sitting together in the sunshine.
Conversations continuing long after the bikes have been put away.
Exactly as Johnny himself would have wanted.
Forever In The OCC Bunch
There is something especially fitting about this memorial. Rather than being placed somewhere quiet and rarely visited, Johnny's bench sits at the centre of a community he helped build.
It remains surrounded by laughter, conversation and friendship.
People still stop there after rides.
Clubmates still gather around it.
And new visitors can learn who Johnny Morrison was simply by taking a seat and scanning a small QR code. For a man remembered as someone who brought people together, it's hard to imagine a more appropriate tribute.
Woodcraft UK were honoured to be asked to create this memorial bench and we would like to thank Oxford Cycling Club and everyone involved for allowing us to play a small part in remembering a much-loved friend, husband, father and clubmate.
Forever in the OCC bunch.