MARK ELKINGTONIn tribute to school teacher Mark Elkington who died in a motorcycle accident on 22 November, 2009.
The 29-year-old, who lived in Thurnby Lodge, worked at Stonehill High School in Birstall, Leicester.
He was riding his Suzuki GSXR bike in the countryside at the time of the accident.
His girlfriend of nine years, Sam Shilton, who was expecting their first child in five months, said: "He died doing what he loved. He did so much for me. He took care of everything.
"Whenever I was worried or scared, he would put his arms around me and make it all go away. He would hug me and everything would be okay.
Mark was a former pupil of Alderman Newton School.
Sam was been inundated with messages of support from the children Mark taught at Stonehill High School.
He had devoted himself to encouraging youngsters who were struggling to make a success of their lives.
One boy wrote to Sam: "I will do well in my life. I will make him proud."
Mark's dad, Richard, of Glenfield, said: "He was a real role model to them and he put his heart and soul into it.
“He said to me: 'If I can make a difference to just one of them, it will have been worth it'.”
Mark was also a successful bodybuilder and won a national competition in 2008.
Richard said: "He was nothing like the typical ignorant bodybuilder some people might be expecting. He would do anything for anyone.
"He was positive about everything, always wanted to be the best, hated bullying – that's why kids respected him."
He taught at Stonehill for two years and at Longslade Community College before that.
Stonehill head teacher Alan Monks said: "He is a massive loss to the school. I could not think of a more perfect role model for the students.
"He had an unswerving belief in young people. This led to a growth in self-belief of the young people in his care.
"Everyone is devastated. The school has decided we must keep the work he started going."
http://www. thisisleicestershire .co.uk/ news/Pregnant-girlfr iend-s- tribute-Leicester-te acher- killed-bike-crash/ar ticle- 1551951-detail/artic le.html [thisisleicestershir e.co.uk]
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