We’re incredibly proud of Varndean student Patrick O’Reilly and his sister Holly, whose fantastic bench design has been chosen to form part of the Amaze Story Trail initiative!
The Story Trail has transformed the streets, parks and open spaces of Brighton into a vibrant, city-wide storybook, with more than 30 beautifully designed BookBenches to discover.
Patrick and Holly's is at Patcham Library.
Patrick and Holly’s design was inspired by the core values of Varndean: Belonging, Challenge and Pride.
Their artwork celebrates some of the things that make Brighton so special, including the iconic helter-skelter on the pier, alongside dolphins inspired by the Varndean logo.
The bench also proudly marks Varndean’s 100th anniversary, a milestone we celebrated this year.
The Story Trail is a free, fun and family-friendly adventure created by Amaze, a local charity supporting families with disabled children.
The Story Trail initiative was created in partnership with Wild in Art, producers of innovative public art trails and the organisation behind some of the art trails you will have seen around Brighton.
The benches will be on display until 8 November 2026.
