MORE than 50 people supported an anniversary draw that raised £1,500 towards a memorial bench for Josh Clayton last Friday (September 23).
Organised by his mother Tracey Clayton, of Fitzhead, it marked a year since Josh’s body was found in the sea after he disappeared from the Isle of Tresco.
Some 36 Taunton businesses donated prizes ranging from a hotel stay to jewellery for the raffle drawn at the World’s End pub, Bradford on Tone.
“It was an amazing turnout and we raised even more money on the night with a collection for Cornwall Search and Rescue Team,” said Tracey.
Four members of the team also attended the fundraising event and one of them, Steve Marshall, drew the tickets and handed out prizes.
The team, all volunteers, provided a dedicated search for Josh when he disappeared from the island where he had been working.
Now Tracey and the rest of Josh’s family are organising a bench in his memory, which they hope may be allowed in Vivary Park, or otherwise elsewhere in Taunton.
Josh had been a popular joint landlord at the Fitzhead Inn for a time, and worked in the hospitality industry in Europe and other parts of England. It was his second season on Tresco when he disappeared, with his body found in the sea ten days later.
Three pre-inquest review hearings have since been held, and the family hopes the inquest itself will take place by the end of November.