DOZENS of people attended the unveiling and blessing of a commemorative bench to one of the region's greatest war heroes today (Thurs, June 30).

The bench at St Cuthbert's Church in Ormesby, Middlesbrough bears the name of Stan Hollis, the Company Sergeant Major who was the only man to win a Victoria Cross on D Day, June 6, 1944.

The simple ceremony to bless the £700 bench in the picturesque church gardens contrasted with the big ceremony to unveil a, £150,000 bronze statue to Green Howard, CSM Hollis outside Middlesbrough's Dorman Museum last year.

Ormesby resident Josie Ranson came up with the idea for a plaque or bench after learning that Middlesbrough-born CSM Hollis lived in Henry Taylor Court in the suburb after the war and had sung in the choir at St Cuthbert's as a young man. She contacted businessman Andy Hill who also helped raise funds from local people, freemasons and councillors over 18months.

The bench was blessed by vicar, the Revd Jennifer Croft, who said: "Let this be a place of quiet, a place to regain a sense of space and a place to gain courage."

Afterwards CSM Hollis' son, Brian Hollis, and his granddaughter, Mandy Hart, both told of their pride and expressed gratitude to all those involved.

CSM Hollis was actually recommended twice over for a VC for his actions during the invasion of occupied France. He charged and took two pill boxes on single handed thereby saving very many lives. He later charged a farm house where two of his men were trapped in the face of enemy fire, freeing both men.