Late Gogglebox stars Leon and June are being remembered with a poignant memorial remembering their work as teachers. The Bernicoffs counted among their pupils youngsters who lived at a Salvation Army children’s home.
A memorial bench has now been installed at the Strawberry Field site, now an award-winning visitor attraction in the couple's home city of Liverpool. It was unveiled at a ceremony attended by Leon and June’s family, including their daughters Helen Hunter and Julie Bernicoff.
Leon and June first appeared on the show in 2013 and became firm favourites with viewers. Leon died two days before Christmas in 2017, with June passing away three years later in 2020, aged 82, after a short illness.
Their daughter Helen said: "We were looking for somewhere nice to put a memorial for my mum and dad, and Strawberry Field was a natural choice as they both taught children from Strawberry Field when they were teachers at Gateacre School.
“They were always very focused on supporting underprivileged children and helping them to make a success of their lives through education, so when we found out about the Steps to Work programme it all fitted into what type of legacy we’d like to leave on behalf of my mum and dad.”
A gold plaque on the bench says, “In loving memory of our parents, grandparents Leon and June Bernicoff, for whom family meant everything. Inspirational teachers who found fame as pensioners.”
The bench was designed and made by Peter Lavin, a passionate carpenter and trainee on the Steps at Strawberry Field programme. The initiative empowers and supports people with barriers to employment to achieve their goals of finding paid work.
Major Kathleen Versfeld, mission director at Strawberry Field, said: “Through their work as teachers, Leon and June provided hundreds of local children with vital opportunities through education. Our Steps at Strawberry Field programme today helps young people to access employment so it seems fitting that their memory should live on here at Strawberry Field, a place they often visited."
She added: "It was a privilege for our trainee Peter to be given the opportunity to craft a bespoke bench for the family. We were delighted to fulfil the wishes of Leon and June’s family and are grateful for their generous donation to support our work.
"Their memorial bench is a wonderful new addition to our gardens for the local community and visitors to enjoy."
