Victor Hugh "Bo" Beal was a founding member of the West End Foreshore Improvement Society established in 1913. Three years later the name changed to the Kawaroa Park Foreshore Beautifying Society and Beal was elected chairman.
Beal remained in this role for over thirty years, overseeing the development of a tea bungalow, children's playground, tennis courts, croquet greens and public baths.
Beal died on 3 November 1946, survived by his wife and two daughters. In the early 1950s fundraising for a memorial seat commenced, and a sketch of the proposed seat appeared in the Taranaki Herald on 19 November 1952. When completed, the memorial seat was a little less grand than that originally proposed, but nevertheless, still a fitting tribute to Beal's dedication to the development of Kawaroa Park.
The memorial seat featured in Kelvin Day's "Of passing interest" in the Taranaki Daily News on 2 April 2012.
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