A PLAQUE is to be unveiled at a York riverside bar this week in a bid to prevent another tragic death in the River Ouse.

The specially-commissioned metal plaque, which is to be unveiled on Friday, is in memory of Richard Horrocks, the 21-year-old bartender who jumped into the water from the bar’s balcony at the end of his last shift at the nearby Revolution bar.

Richard tried to swim across the river, but got into difficulties and drowned. He was the third person to die in York’s rivers last year and his death sparked The Press’s Think, Don’t Swim campaign, which has aimed to raise awareness of the dangers of falling or jumping into the Ouse and the Foss.

Posters and beer mats publicising the campaign were distributed to pubs and clubs across the city centre, and a film was produced by film-maker Christopher David, of York-based Flash Frame Productions.

The film featured moving interviews with Richard’s mother, Vicki, and sister, Abbi, and a fictional dramatisation about a young man who goes skinny dipping in the river with tragic consequences.

The plaque, which was commissioned by Revolution, carries the campaign logo and Richard’s picture, and tells how he thought he could swim across the Ouse and his devastated family later had to attend his funeral.

Former Revolution general manager Laura Morris said she had decided to commission the plaque to serve not just as a memorial to Richard but also as a warning to other people.

She said the wording and design had been agreed in consultation with Mrs Horrocks, who wanted it to serve as a hard-hitting warning sign.

Mrs Horrocks, who is a strong supporter of The Press’s campaign, said she was pleased and touched that the plaque had been produced.

“I hope it will help drive the message home and help prevent other deaths,” she said.

York Press: The Press - Comment

Memorial warning

RICHARD Horrocks died unnecessarily last year, when he drowned after jumping into the Ouse from a balcony at Revolution. Now a plaque has been unveiled at the spot which will serve not only as a memorial to his life, but as a warning to others of the pitfalls this beautiful, but potentially lethal, river can hold for the unwary.

Following Richard’s death we released our film Think, Don’t Swim, to raise awareness of the dangers of York’s rivers.

It has been described as brutal and honest, as it needed to be, and while we are pleased it is helping to get the message across, for those who have yet to watch it, we hope the new plaque at Revolution will act as a similar deterrent.

York Press: What do you think? - Click to comment