Motorcycle group set to honour 'extraordinary' Malvern man Paul Hart following his death
The 52-year-old's death in Malvern last Saturday sparked a murder investigation, with a 25-year-old man and 17-year-old arrested and later released on bail while police continue their enquiries
A Worcestershire motorcycle group has paid tribute to one of its directors and vowed to keep it going in his memory.
52-year-old Paul Hart died last Saturday (12 July) in Malvern and was part of Legacy Moto which gave a place for members of the motorcycle community to come together and support each other.
West Mercia Police say in the early hours of Saturday morning officers were deployed to Belle Vue Terrace following a report of an altercation.
On arrival they found Mr Hart unconscious before he was taken to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and assault with both being released on bail while enquiries continue.
'An extraordinary man'
Co-founder of Legacy Moto Community Interest Company (CIC) Adrian Giles says Mr Hart contacted him last summer after he had created a motorcycle community in Malvern.
He said when he and fellow co-founder Mike met Paul they knew immediately he had to join their project and made him a director.
Mr Giles has paid tribute to Paul, describing him as an 'extraordinary man' and said they had been looking for nearly two years to find the right premises for a workshop and thanks to him they might've finally found one.
"Legacy Moto will continue because that's what he would've wanted, it will continue at pace because so many people have written to say look, this was his dream," he said.
"We will build it in Paul's image because we all discussed how we were going to renovate these premises, what the look and feel would be like.
"Paul will be honoured in that way within the building and within the community interest company forevermore."
A number of tributes have also been left on the group's social media platform.
"It doesn't surprise me that these messages are coming but what has surprised me is the volume," Mr Giles said.
"Long may they continue because I think reading these wonderful messages helps everyone realise what a man he was.
"He was one of those very special people and an extraordinary man, he was about six-foot five but underneath that was a soft, kind, gentle, considerate person who spent his life doing things for other people."
Officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses or information following Mr Hart's death.
Detective Sergeant Shelly Aplin, from the Major Investigation Unit, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of the man who sadly lost his life on Saturday morning.
“It is imperative for the family that we get a clear understanding of what happened and that is why I am continuing to appeal to anybody who witnessed the events on Saturday morning to come forward.
“If you saw what happened or have any information that would help with our investigation, however small you feel that may be, please contact me or if you wish to remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers where your details are completely confidential and untraceable.”