A LOVING SON with a free spirit and an enigmatic smile is how the father of 19-year-old Tom Atkinson will remember him. Tom, from Lifton, was killed when his car hit a tree at Lamerton on May 1. Each day the floral tributes grow at the spot where he died. Speaking to the Times this week Peter Atkinson said his son had a wonderful sense of humour and a love of life that was infectious: 'People enjoyed his company, they wanted to be with him because it was always fun with Tom, never boring. 'Whenever I went out with him for a drink around Tavistock everyone would say hello to me and he would say this is my dad. He was proud to be out with me and that is not always the case with a father and son. I had waited a long time to go out for a drink with my son but unfortunately I only had one year.' Tom was a food technician at Ginsters. 'He loved his job and made strong friendships,' said Mr Atkinson. 'He enjoyed playing the guitar and was a whizz with computers.' 'Tom used to say a smile works wonders and it was amazing because he could walk into a room and smile and all the girls would look at him. He was a free spirit and did what he wanted.' He said the tributes from Tom's friends and colleagues had been a great support and everyone who knew him was invited to the funeral service on Saturday at St Constantine's Church in Milton Abbot at 3pm. 'The funeral is for Tom and his friends and for everyone that loved him. They all need to grieve and we want them to come and say goodbye.' Local musician Rory Gilmore has written a special song for Tom. The theme tune from Red Dwarf, Tom's favourite TV show, will be playing and the 'Sultans of Swing' by Dire Straits will be played as his coffin is borne from the church. Mr Atkinson, a freelance cameraman working for the BBC, said the accident was like something you read in the papers and never expect will happen to you: 'When I had that knock on the door at 5am and a policeman standing in front of me I just knew what had happened. It is terrible when a life is taken away like this, whether it is a young boy, a woman, child or old man.' The crash occurred in the early hours near Carr's Garage. Shortly afterwards the car caught fire. Mr Atkinson said: 'I just wanted people out there who are devastated by Tom's death to take some peace knowing that he died instantly and the fire was totally incidental afterwards. 'It was an accident and there is not going to be a police investigation. We don't know all the details yet but as I understand it Tom had been at his friend's house in Milton Abbot and they had gone into town for a kebab. The accident happened on the way back. 'Tom loved the enjoyment and freedom of driving. He liked speed but always adhered to the speed limits. Unfortunately, lack of experience or knowledge came into the frame and we lost Tom on this earth.' Donations at the funeral will go towards the purchase of a bench and plaque to be placed near Tom's grave at St Constantine's, opposite the village green where he played as a child. l The following tributes have been made by Peter Atkinson and Tom's 16-year-old sister Eve: Peter: Tom is my one and only son and is the best son in the world. There is a term that all good things must come to an end. For me the end was too soon . . . All fathers want a son and when they have one they wait for the day when they can take him out and have an evening with him and introduce him as your son and friend. My time with Tom was so short . . . but the time I had was so wonderful. I miss him so desperately but thank God for the 19 years I had. I know that Tom has so many friends, and I just want them to know they they should be so proud that they knew Tom Atkinson. Eve: There was never a dull moment with you, Tom —anybody could tell you that! Either smiling, eating or sleeping, that's what you were — sometimes all three! But I never knew that one could change so much within the space of 19 years. Most won't remember when your head resembled a mushroom — so we won't dwell on that. But it's how your body morphed from chunky to hunky. Who knows what you would look like at 30? I wish I did. Maybe at that age you would have been a bit more lenient with the TV remote — although some things never change! Our foot-fights on the settee lasted for hours, and you would sit and watch cartoons and turn seven years old again. But you have grown up, and you would venture home after a long day's work with the bitter stench of pasty pastry clinging to your clothes and hair — I was never quite sure if I liked that smell or not. Just a few things that I remember so clearly, and that I hope never to forget. Thomas Atkinson, I can't forget you — ever sitting on the sofa in my mind with your feet on the table. Take your shoes off.