Family and friends of teenager Claudia Landa sang happy birthday, ate pizza and 'unveiled' a bench etched with a poem on what would have been her 19th birthday.
Up to 60 people went along to the event in Hackbridge on Saturday to honour Claudia, who died when she was hit by a truck in Mitcham almost exactly two years ago when she was 17 years-old.
Her mother Naomi Martin, who lives in Hackbridge, raised £12,000 to fund the design and building of the undulating galvanised steel bench which was designed by Claudia’s friends.
Claudia's mother Naomi Martin and step-father Simon Courage on the bench
Speaking about the event, on what would have been Claudia's 19th birthday on Saturday, Ms Martin said: "It went really well, and it didn't rain all the time!
"We sang happy birthday and ate all the pizza, and chatted.
"I am really glad I did it and I have had a lot of messages about how nice the bench is."
April 2014: Hundreds gather for teenager Claudia Landa's funeral
She hosted a workshop to gather ideas for a memorial to Claudia, who was 17 when she died in hospital two days after an accident in Carshalton Road, at the junction with Goat Road, Mitcham, on April 2 2014.
Claudia, a former Carshalton High School for Girls pupil from Hackbridge, was on her way home from Richmond-upon-Thames College when she was knocked down.
Ms Martin said: “Parents said they wanted something for kids to climb on because that’s a really nice way of remembering Claudia.”
She said the nine metre by two metre high structure is shaped in an undulating manner to be reminiscent of a cloud – Claudia’s nickname.
A poem written by a friend is engraved onto the outside and a pearly paint covers the inside to reflect the changing weather. It has been in place by the Bedzed pavilion in Hackbridge since Christmas and Ms Martin said it has been fantastic to see children playing on it already.
The official unveiling of the bench saw bunting draped onto it, and a party with Claudia’s favourite pizza from Gino’s in Mitcham.
“We are having pizza because it was one of her favourite foods.
“She was quite fussy because she had been to Italy a lot.”
The family continue to raise money through the Claudia Landa Memorial Fund, with future projects in the pipeline to help young people with mental health problems.
Support the fund on Facebook at Claudia Landa Memorial or follow Claudia's Legacy on Twitter.
The poem, by Becky and Flo read:
They will always remind us of you.
Summer ones, autumn, spring and winter ones.
Fluffy ones; wispy, rushing and sunny ones.
Silver-lined, sunset hues, brooding grey and heavy rain.
Pretty ones; solitary; clustered; busy groups of hectic ones.
Crowds of little ones and great big angry ones and definitely funny shaped ones.
Bright, clear, soft, beautiful, always there, back and forth, far and near.
Eternally travelling this globe of ours;
Admired; needed; fleeting; amazing.
We will look up to you often and see you on your travels.
Missing you and thankful for times we got to share the trip with you.
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