A420 crash victims to be remembered in tribute event

Calum Leighton and Joseph Shape, both aged 18 from Chippenham, and 20-year-old Lawrence Bruce, from Devizes, were killed in the incident on the A420 at Faringdon in August 2022.

The crash came just a day after Calum, an aspiring DJ who made his name at events in Bath, launched his own music label Run Da Riddim.

Since then, Calum’s dad Andrew has worked to keep his son’s legacy alive by co-managing the label, which was established alongside Calum’s childhood friend Olly Ley.

READ MORE: Legacy of 'fun-loving' teen killed in A420 crash kept alive through his music

The memorial to the three boys in Chippenham (Image: Andrew Leighton)

This year, just days before the anniversary of the crash, Run Da Riddim will hold its biggest tribute event yet at Lost Horizon in Bristol.

The event, on Saturday, August 17, will be run in collaboration with KUNS, a clothing brand founded in memory of Lawrence.

A number of other tributes have been made to the trio this summer, including the repainting of a memorial wall created under the Gladstone Road bridge in 2022.

DJ decks were taken down under the bridge during one of these painting sessions to play music while friends of Lawrence worked.

On the eve of the tribute event, Run Da Riddim will release the first track from the Dance to the Rhythm EP, which will feature four tunes of Calum’s completed by more established artists.

This song will be called Move and will be followed by the release of the full EP this autumn.

Calum’s family has previously spoken about the importance of the tribute events and record label in keeping his memory alive.

Last year they said: “This time of year will always be bittersweet for us and Calum’s friends.

The memorial to the three boys in Chippenham (Image: Andrew Leighton)

“Celebrating the happiest day of his life and the launch of his record label Run Da Riddim, followed by the most tragic and the feeling of loss and sadness.

“Seeing the friends of all three boys come together with so much passion and determination to ensure they are never forgotten made us feel very proud.

“What stood out was the solidarity amongst them. Very few knew all three boys, and there were many friends of Joe and Lawrence that we hadn’t met before, but seeing everyone come together and talk about them with such admiration made us realise how much they are all loved and always will be.”