It is where the 81-year-old goes to remember his wife Maureen, who died when Mr Imrie crashed their car through a barrier on Main Rd, Sumner, and into the sea in 2017.
During the incident, witnesses pulled Mr Imrie out of the vehicle, but it was swept away before they were able to rescue Mrs Imrie.
The memorial seat, which has a plaque paying tribute to Mrs Imrie, has been an idea of Mr Imrie’s since shortly after the crash. However, he had to wait until the section of the Christchurch Coastal Pathway was approved by the city council before it could go ahead.
He has visited the site every week since the crash and hopes he will have a sense of closure now that the seat has been installed.
Four flags are embellished on the plaque – the Welsh flag which represents Mrs Imrie’s birthplace and the English, Australian and New Zealand flags which symbolise the countries she lived in throughout her life.
“I’m happy now. Hopefully, it will be there forever,” he said.
The Coastal Pathway is a community-driven project directed by a committee with help from the city council.
The 6km path from Ferrymead to Scarborough Beach will cater for children, pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and people using scooters and wheelchairs.
Mr Imrie paid for the seat out of his own pocket and hopes it will be enjoyed by people using the walkway who knew Mrs Imrie.
“She was well-known and liked in the area, especially with the kiddies and quite a few of the locals.”
•A meet-up will be held at the site on October 6 at 4pm for family, friends and anyone who knew Mrs Imrie. If you want to go along, get in touch with Mr Imrie on 376 5655.
