A community BMX track has been given a new lease of life thanks to the friends and family of its creator.
The track on Catterick Village sports field was the brainchild of local resident and cycling enthusiast Andrew Parks, who sadly died last May.
On Sunday evening it became the setting for a fitting tribute of remembrance for Andrew, former professional mountain biker and a popular member of the village community.
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The occasion brought together his friends and family for the unveiling of a new sign, renaming the facility The Andrew Parks Memorial Track
The sign was designed and made by Andrew’s good friend Steven Smith, at Richmond-based Eye Catching Signs.
The sign is a tribute to Andrew, or as his friends knew him Parksy, combining Parksy’s best advice for how to maximise your speed on the track with health and safety warnings to the uninitiated.
The event, which aptly took place a day after the Tour De Yorkshire graced Richmondshire’s towns and villages, was supported by Catterick Village Sports Association, Just the Job, Eye Catching Signs and Robert D’Arcy who helped co-ordinate proceedings and provided a tribute performing songs in dedication and sharing memories of Andrew, in the sports pavilion afterwards.
The surroundings to the track were strimmed and tidied by members of local charity Just the Job, and the track itself was re-surfaced by Parksy’s friends Grant Smeggy Evans, Darren Squibb, Matthew Kearney and Matthew BG.
There was a warm setting sun and children of Parksy’s friends were the the first to ride the rejuvenated course.
A bucket for donations was passed around friends and family during the musical tribute and over £188 was raised for the family’s nominated charity, Campaign Against people Living Miserably or CALM.
In the past 12 months Parsky – Ride On t-shirts have been designed and distributed in tribute of Andrew, by Jude Smith, Kelly Jeffrie and Chris Barry Waller, with proceeds of the t-shirt sales also going to CALM.
