A professional skater joined family and friends in unveiling a special skateboard bench in memory of a "well loved" man who died following a 19-month battle with brain cancer.
Touching tributes have been paid as a fine turnout of people gathered at Normanston Park in Lowestoft for the unveiling of a new memorial bench at "the favourite place" of Ollie Nicholls.
The "very popular and well loved young man", who was "well known in Lowestoft" died at home "surrounded by his loved ones" on November 10 last year after a 19-month fight with a grade four cancerous brain tumour.
Described as "skateboard crazy", Mr Nicholls "spent most of his spare time" at the Normanston skatepark up until he was diagnosed in 2022.
Designed in the shape of a skateboard, and installed "in his favourite place" at the skatepark, friends had rallied round to raise funds for the memorial bench.
And with the support of the family, and kind permission of Lowestoft Town Council, the new memorial was unveiled by pro skater Chewy Cannon on Saturday.
Born on September 5, 1996, Ollie lived in Kirkley from the age of one, attending Fen Park Primary, Kirkley Middle and East Point Academy.
After leaving school, Ollie studied welding and fabrication at college and ended up being a scaffolder - as he worked for East Coast Scaffolding.
His mum Christine Nicholls said: "From the age of four Ollie was skateboard crazy.
"He spent hours at Normanston skatepark either on his skateboard, scooter or BMX."
In 2022 Ollie noticed he was suffering headaches and losing his balance, so he went to have his eyes tested in April.
His mum recalled: "He was sent straight to James Paget University Hospital where after many tests and an MRI he was told he had a tumour behind his eye.
"Ollie started having occasional seizures the month after, attending Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for a brain biopsy.
"This was a very scary time for us all - but a month later our world was turned upside down.
"The tumour was a grade three cancer."
After six weeks of radiotherapy, five days a week, 12 months of chemotherapy followed.
Mrs Nicholls said: "We could see his health declining but he never complained.
"His mobility had got really bad and Ollie ended up in a wheelchair, then 11 months into the chemo he was told it wasn’t working and there was no more that could be done.
"The tumour was growing.
"Again Ollie didn’t complain."
The family said Ollie was "desperate" to get to Amsterdam - "one of his favourite places" and despite being "so unwell" his wish was honoured in October last year.
"Ollie sadly passed away on November 10 at home surrounded by his loved ones - we were all absolutely devastated," Mrs Nicholls said.
His funeral was held on November 30 - his favourite nan's birthday.
After this friends and family set up a GoFundMe page for a memorial bench in his honour, with the target reached "very quickly" and with the help of the town council, his mum said: "Of course it had to be a skateboard bench.
"Ollie would’ve loved it.
"Chewy Cannon said he was honoured to unveil the bench, with Steve - from Gordon BarberFuneral Directors in Lowestoft - giving a speech on the day.
"It was a joyful day as we knew Ollie would have been over the moon, but at the same time it was sad.
"We would like to thank everyone who made this happen.
"Ollie was lucky enough to travel the world with his parents and he squeezed a lot in his 27 years.
"Everyone who knew and met Ollie loved him.
"He was a true gentleman and had time for everyone."
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