Who was Tom Spiteri?

Drive along Westferry Road on the Isle of Dogs and you can’t fail to notice the front of a disused apartment building adorned with flowers, wreaths and cards.They first  appeared more than a year ago, as is often the case following a fatal road crash.

But unlike the majority of floral tributes laid in the days after an accident, these didn’t disappear after a couple of weeks. 

In the months since November 2010 when they first appeared, this makeshift shrine has grown and grown. 

People have lit candles and placed enormous floral wreaths and cards at the site which has become a semi-permanent memorial to a young man who apparently had quite an impact on the community.

Tom Spiteri died on Saturday, November 20, 2010, after coming off his motorbike during a collision with a car near his home.

The 19-year-old dance music fan was pronounced dead at the scene despite witnesses  giving resuscitation.

Within hours of his death a tribute page on Facebook had already gained almost 2,000 members.

Lines of flowers appeared at the site of the accident with a regular procession of mourners stopping to pay their respects.

A message even appeared from the Island’s Muslim community: “we are unable to express our sorrow in words”.

Floral tributes are not an unusual sight at the side of the road, bunches of flowers tied to a lamp post or left at the side of the road are common.

But this is different, the road has almost become a shrine.

The flowers are always fresh and there are rows and rows of them stretching along the road.

At certain times of the year candles are lit with balloons and extravagant wreaths laid regularly.

A gallery of photographs and pictures has grown in the window of the building with poems, prayers, tributes and messages of condolence to this tragic youngster’s family.

More than 1,000 people attended his funeral at the City of London Crematorium and around 150 gathered outside. 

At the time, his parents, Jason and Lorraine, said: “We couldn’t believe the attendance for the funeral – we would have been proud with half the number that came.

“What’s happened has been tragic and everyone has wanted to come forward and say they’re thinking of Tom and that they loved him. He was born on the Island – his life was the Island. 

“You would not get this response from many other communities and we just can’t believe it.”

At 16 Tom, who had two brothers and a sister Sadie, left school to start an electrician apprenticeship but eventually quit to work for his father’s catering company in the City.

He was a dance music fan, liked to party in Ibiza, and loved fashion, owning more than 60 pairs of trainers. His biggest passion though, was motorbikes.

Last week fresh flowers were laid with birthday cards and balloons to mark his 21st birthday on Thursday (March 22).

On twitter friends and family posted messages.

Jake Walker: “A big happy 21st birthday to the biggest star in the sky Tom Spiteri, its your day!!!”

Grace Canavan: “Happy Birthday Tom Spiteri, thinking of @SadieSpiteri & your family today! Rest In Perfect Peace xx”

His death prompted Poplar and Limehouse MP Jim Fitzpatrick to write to Tower Hamlets Council calling for a 20mph limit on the island's roads.

He also called on Transport Minister Philip Hammond to put the limit on all urban roads.

"I recognise the devastating effect that road deaths have on the families involved and on the winder community,” he said.

"It's a problem that can, and must, be tackled through individuals making a commitment to slowing down in the community."

Whether or not Tom’s death was simply a tragic accident or could have been prevented by stricter speed limits on the island, one thing is for sure, he shows no signs of being forgotten soon.