Jordan's bench bench on the Blairgowrie Bench Trail

#JordansChallenge

In memory of Jordan Hart 2003 - 2020

Updated: 11:16 Thursday 9 February 2023.

Jordan's bench

Jordan's bench bench - Bench Number 38
Location: Rugby Club

The view from this bench:

Jordan's bench
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How to find this bench

Location: Rugby Club.

This bench is the under the trees in JJ Coupar Park - coming into the park from Coupar Angus Road, turn right along the tree line and walk towards the corner, you will find it half way along in front of 2 newly planted trees by the family.

Information about this bench

Jordan's Bench was lovingly created by the Walker Family - Bridge of Cally in memory of Jordan Hart.

The location of this bench is special. Jordan was a member of Blairgowrie Rams.

A message from Su.

Jordan was a quiet child, Bethany talked for him in his formative years, he did struggle, with bright lights, loud noises, his ear defenders beside his bed for so many years, you knew how his day had been by the way the back door shut on his return from school. To being upset hiding away as he hadn’t understood someone and didn’t know why he was the bad one. Sometimes he needed to decompress, and just get him a snack and leave him for a while, sometimes it would take days before he would let you know what was bothering him.

He had such a big heart, he listened, to others, when they were struggling, maybe not giving them answers but someone that didn’t judge just really listened. I had been in a car crash in December '19, and he was such a support helping me, his Air Cadet family with routine and support helped him achieve so much, but he just so wanted to fit in. We often sat and talked into the early hours, when he couldn’t sleep, why had he reacted so, why didn’t people like him, why was he so odd, so thick, a burden to his sister, his dad and me, to have such weights on his shoulders at his age, the anxiety tracking through the hours, I would talk quietly and gently trying to get through to him.

We tried to help others understand him, as his diagnosis didn’t define him or his abilities. He felt a failure, some understood his quirks ‘ Jordanisms’, he felt so strongly that sometimes it felt that he took on others pain. Covid didn’t help, all his routines were shot, cadets were online, and he never felt comfortable, the assessments were tiring, he hardly spoke for 6 whole sessions, I sat holding his hand. He grew more anxious, he was isolated like so many, and struggled mentally to keep focus.

Jordan had so many plans and imagination, he was amazing loving empathetic son, I loved hearing him laugh at things I have no idea how they were funny, but they were to him. His love of everything Doctor Who, each series and individual and what was contained within them. Timey Wimey Wibbly Wobbly stuff. (If you know you know) Anything Marvel, the chronological order of the films, his ability to tell me the links without missing a beat when I got confused. Lego had been a constant, his ability to see past instructions, once he had checked off each piece the manual would be set aside. His love of wood and creating pieces, his ability to teach others PT, he loved his Wednesday cadet evenings, him being able to track 50 plus apps to create meaningful overall sessions, he had started college, and we saw a difference, if he was interested in a subject it was like he was a sponge, seeing him link muscles and bone structure into his classes was amazing. He had started to grow, we were learning, the belief was that because he had masked and had such a supportive network was linked to not being identified as on the autistic spectrum earlier, the diagnosis was supposed to help him get more support as you know, people like labels…. I myself prefer them for jars.

Jordan died by suicide on November 28th 2020, 4 days before his 17th birthday, we hurt each and every day..….

So we try to honour him by living and breathing each day. Trying to help those that are lacking in voice. For those who have different abilities, the ones that people may not see. For those that suffer from mental health, to strive to break down stigma that surrounds us, one conversation at a time.

Jordan David Benjamin Hart #Forever16



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