Exclusive by Alan Quick

AT a private ceremony, a memorial in the form of a a totem pole was unveiled at the Scout Memorial Garden in Peoples Park, Crediton, in memory of Crediton Scout Samuel Crocker, who tragically died following a road accident in Crediton in February 2015.

Samuel (10), a Crediton Scout, was knocked over in a “hit-and-run” on February 28 in Threshers in the town.

The driver, Cameron Trivett (24), of Mill Street, Crediton, subsequently admitted causing death by careless driving and was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court to four years in prison.

Samuel’s funeral service was held at Crediton Parish Church where an act of remembrance also took place shortly after the accident.

Floral tributes were left at the accident scene and his fellow pupils at Landscore Primary School were offered counselling and support and held their own acts of remembrance.

Fundraising and donations has raised more than £16,309 in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust in memory of Samuel.

Donations are still being accepted and people can do so via the website: www.justgiving.com/SparkleforSamuel .

More than 555 donations have been made on-line. It originally had a target of £750.

Lisa Crocker, Samuel’s aunt, a police community support officer, was one of the first people called to the accident scene on February 28 and she discovered that the victim was her young nephew.

Lisa raised more than £680 (£840 with Gift Aid) for DAAT by running the 13.1 mile Great West Run in Exeter in memory of her nephew on October 19.

Lisa has a virginmoneygiving.com page where people can make donations.

A FITTING MEMORIAL

Debbie Richards from the First Crediton Scouts explained: "After months of planning and deciding on what would be a fitting memorial for Samuel, we finally saw the finished design, created and installed by Greenspace Designs Ltd, who also created Samuel’s memorial at Landscore Primary School.

"The design itself came from ideas put forward from members of our Scout Group and Samuel’s family.

"The Totem Pole was something we all felt children who knew Samuel could relate to.

"At the top sits our Scout Movement Fleur de Lis.

Next comes our scout group neckerchief depicting our special (#sparkleforsamuel woggle (made earlier in the year to raise funds for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust).

"Spiraling around the pole is our Scout Promise which Samuel made as a Beaver, Cub and Scout while making his Scout salute with his hand.

"The other pictures depict some of the things Samuel enjoyed both inside and outside of scouts: camping, football and his love of nature.

"At the base of the pole you will see a mole, which links our memorial to the one at Landscore Primary School.

"A campfire is also depicted below the back of the neckerchief. At future camps, our campfires will most certainly burn bright in memory of Samuel (#sparkleforsamuel)."

On "Facebook" Chris Gillard, from Crediton described the Totem Pole as a "lovely memorial to Samuel and work of art to enhance the Scout’s Garden in Peoples Park", Rev Nigel Guthrie said: "A lovely thoughtful memorial from Crediton Scouts for a boy was is greatly missed. Thinking of all his family at this time" and Laura Kelly said: "Such a lovely memorial for a young lad who touched so many. All involved should be immensely proud (#sparkleforsamuel)."