Special tribute to inspirational Sam Davies

Sam, 24, died in January after an accident on Lawford Road, just weeks before his girlfriend Regan was due to give birth to their daughter.

Tributes flooded in from people who knew him and who had been helped by him – and earlier this month the remarkable impact he had on so many lives was honoured in a ceremony at Hill Street Youth Centre.

Members of the Rugby Community Safety Partnership presented a Notable Achievement Award and a paperweight to his family, including Sam’s daughter Remmy who was born on February 25.

The award’s citation said: ‘Sam was a well-known and popular figure in the Rugby community where he grew up; at an early age, already showing signs of a special musical talent.

‘As a teenager he attended Hill Street Youth and Community Centre with his friends, spending most of his time in the music studio writing lyrics and putting these to music he composed.

‘Later, Sam became a volunteer peer mentor and role model at Hill Street, achieving his Level 2 qualification in youth and community work.

‘Charismatic, inspirational and a unique singer/songwriter, Sam developed a special connection with young people who shared his passion for music.

‘His premature and tragic death has had a huge impact on those of all ages who met him at the Hill Street Centre but especially on vulnerable young people at risk of under-achievement, social exclusion and offending.

‘By encouraging them to write lyrics about the challenges they faced, he gave them a voice they never thought they would have and a message they never thought would be heard.

‘Sam’s legacy is profound - that if vulnerable young people are listened to, respected and engaged, our communities will be a safer and better place to live in for everyone.’

His mum Karen told the Advertiser: “I’m so proud that the things he has done have helped all those other young people. I work in Asda and a lot of people have come up to me and introduced themselves and said how inspirational he was.”

Sam was in the band CreamOv Da Crop and worked as a salesman at Xercise4Less.