Can you solve the mystery behind this eerie park bench?

A mystery behind an eerie memorial on a park bench in London is continuing to grow after it first appeared two months ago.

The plaque has been fixed on a worn down bench, which is tucked away in a corner of Hampstead Heath in London.

The bronze plaque reads: ‘To our friend Ron who died on this bench in quite a strange way.’

While the bench periodically goes viral as it is noticed by dog walkers, nature lovers and runners, no one has come forward to claim they knew Ron, explain who he is and what his strange cause of death was.

Adding to the intrigue, the City of London Corporation, which runs the park, told Metro.co.uk that memorial benches are not allowed in the park and they do not know how or why the plaque got there in the first place.

They said: ‘We do not offer commemorative plaques on benches at Hampstead Heath.

‘It is likely that this plaque was installed without permission.’

Social media users have speculated as to why the sign has been stuck to the bench, and who is responsible for leaving it.

Of course it may have been erected as a prank, but some have more exciting ideas.

One Reddit user wrote: ‘It doesn’t look like a proper plaque, either someone has an awesome sense of humour, or Ron’s gone wrong!’

X users from London joked Ron ‘had a piano dropped on him’, but others admitted even those living in the capital city have no clue.

@Hotish_scottish wrote: ‘What’s even funnier is that in London nobody seems to actually know the story behind the plaque.

‘You can buy benches in public spaces as memorials, and the plaque can really say whatever on them so we might never know.’

But this is not the first memorial bench to turn heads.

One bench tucked away in a different North London park reads: ‘In memory of Roger Bucklesby. Who hated this park and everyone in it.’

In 2013 Buzzfeed reported Roger, sadly, never existed and the plaque was installed by author Jamie Maslin.

He said he created the plaque after his friend called him a ‘whinger’.

Another plaque was removed in Aberystwyth which read: ‘In loving memory of Huw Davies. Used to sit here and shout “Fuck off!” at the seagulls.’

One which is less complimentary on Fulham way reads: ‘In memory of Fenella Stalag. A smell with a face.’

Another in London says: ‘In memory of Frankie Thorax. Always dull and usually violent.’

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