TRIBUTES have been paid to York's "skateboarding missionary", who has died of a heart attack aged 31.

Father-of-two Graham Walton, of Towton Avenue, was relaxing at home with his wife, Andrea, and a friend when the tragedy struck. He had no previous history of heart trouble.

Graham, who leaves a son, James, eight, and daughter, Maya, four, was well known in York for his work with the skateboarding community.

He led weekly Christian meetings at the Zoo skate ramp in Fossbank, where he preached the gospel to young skateboarders after judging skate competitions.

Graham, a worshipper at Calvary Chapel Church, York, had recently quit his job as an electrician to launch his own skate fashion label, Tekoa Clothing.

"His dream was to do skate ministry," said Andrea, 29.

"He started skateboarding when he was nine and knew people all over the country through it.

"A lot of skateboarders aren't made to feel welcome by the church, so Graham felt he had to reach out to them. He took the church to them."

Andrea said many of Graham's young skateboarding friends arrived at the church on Sunday to pay their respects to him.

"The kids were devastated," Andrea said.

"It's almost unreal at the moment that he is not going to walk through the door. He loved eating curries and doing practical jokes. I know that there is a bigger picture and a reason for what's happened."

Graham was also involved at the skate ramps at Rowntree Park and off Wilton Rise and regularly hired out ramps to churches.

Graham's close friend, Kenny Wood, 38, was visiting him from America when the tragedy struck.

"Graham was one of those guys who everyone saw as their best friend," he said. "He was certainly mine."

Graham's funeral will take place on Monday, at 10.30am, at York Cemetery, followed by a thanksgiving service at Calvary Chapel, in Fawcett Street, at 11am.

For more information the church can be contacted on 01904 638777.

Updated: 10:31 Friday, October 22, 2004