A MEMORIAL bench has been put in place alongside the River Severn in memory of a Bromsgrove student who lost his life after a night out last September.
Worcester City Council has installed the bench with the backing of the family of Thomas Jones, the 18-year-old University of Worcester student who had recently moved to the city before his life ended in tragic circumstances.
His body was found in the river on September 28 last year nine days after he went missing in the early hours of September 19.
The new bench is located on Grandstand Road, between Sabrina Bridge and the Worcester Rowing Club and Thomas’ parents Vicki and Ian Jones and their daughter Ellie met Worcester City Council managing director David Blake last Wednesday (April 3) to officially unveil it.
Also present were council operations supervisor Mark Baylis and green space team supervisor Mark Worrall.
A plaque on the bench is inscribed with the following wording: “With so much Love we remember Thomas Jones (Jonah)
“Tragically taken from us 19 September 2018 aged 18 years
“A wonderful Son and big Brother, Tom will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
“Fly high with the angels Topman until we are all together again.
“As you were…TJ .
In a statement, Mr and Mrs Jones said the tragedy had devastated the family but paid tribute to the care they had been shown since Thomas’s death.
“Our heartfelt sincere thanks go to David Blake, Mark Worrall and Mark Baylis and all at Worcester City Council for the time you gave us and for the wonderful bench you have so very kindly presented to us in Thomas’s memory,” they said.
“Tom’s bench means the world to us and we cannot express in words the comfort it will bring in the weeks, months and years to come to ourselves, our family and Tom’s friends – a special place we can visit to reflect and remember our lovely Tom; we know he would have been so happy studying in Worcester.
“These past few months have devastated us as a family, however, we have been truly overwhelmed by the love, support and care we have received from everyone in the Worcester community, you are very special to us and we will never ever forget your kindness. Thank you so very much.”
