Yorkshire BMX-loving teenager's memory lives on at new Norton & Malton skate park after tragic death.
Tom Warrington, from Malton, died in 2008 but was a regular seen with his BMX in tow at Malton & Norton Skatepark. A commemorative plaque has gone up at a skate park in North Yorkshire that is currently being repaired to pay tribute to a "much loved character".
Tom Warrington, who was a regular at Norton Skate Park, died in 2008 after his car hit a tree near Whitby. The Malton man, who was 18 when he died, was a regular at the skate park, which has been at the centre of a dispute over the last year to be repaired.
Ryan Swain, who has helped lead the campaign to fix the skate park, took it upon himself to install the blue commemorative plaque to Mr Warrington. He said: "He was a much loved character at the skatepark and beyond.
"After a lot of organising and planning I have taken the liberty to get this very special blue commemorative plaque in memory of someone myself and many others loved greatly at the skatepark and was the soul of it for many years down there, Thomas Lloyd Warrington.
"Since his death in 2008 many of us have always said or tried to get some sort of commemorative piece for him at the skatepark as he truly loved it down there and met so many amazing people at the facility. Tom was one of the finest BMX talents to come out of Malton. But above all he was one of the most charming, fun loving, kind-hearted and generous spirits many of us have ever known.”
"Now with the repairs taking place and the rebirth and rejuvenation of the Malton & Norton Skatepark we thought that it was the time to finally pay that tribute to Tom at the park he has always deserved and give him his own ramp which he loved getting gnarly on so much, the L Ramp.
"Now a little piece of him will always be flying over us down there whether you are a user or just simply passing by. Tom tragically passed away in 2008 but his legacy will live on through one of the things he loved doing the most, BMXing.
"All I ask is that users respect and honor this as he was so loved within our community and beyond."
