Evesham goes blue to mourn the loss of Navy Sailor

More than 200 people turned out to mourn and celebrate the life of Josh Gayton, aged 21, who died in Scotland last month.

The town went blue in the evening Sunday. 

People attending the vigil were asked to where blue, many shop windows had blue candles in their front windows and both the Valkyrie pub and the Evesham Bell tower were lit up blue.

Evesham Bell Tower lit up blue (Image: Peter Stewart)

The Last Post was played and vigil goers held two minutes of silence to remember the sailor, at around 9pm.

Messages were written on blue ribbons which were then tied to the tree outside the Valkyrie for the family to read later on. 

A circle of blue candles were left surrounding the tree at the end of the night. 

The event was attended by Evesham Sea Cadets and Navy Mums.

Evesham Sea Cadets (Image: Peter Stewart)

One woman who attended the service said: "It's great to see so many people turnout for him, because of his age he had so many friends.

"It was a lovely occasion, the perfect send off, the town did him proud." 

Royal Navy Mums (Image: Peter Stewart)

Mr Gayton went missing in Scotland on April 16 before his body was found in water off Helensburgh on April 21.

Over £15,000 has been raised to support his family.

Steve Richford, owner of The Valkyrie, said: "It went very well, there must have been over 200 people spread across the square. 

"We lit the whole pub blue. 

"The family as you can imagine were very emotional, up until The Last Post it was a celebration of his life and there were lots of tears, people then applauded. 

"Evesham is not good at a lot of things, but things like this the whole community joins in and supports.