TODAY we sadly mark three years since we lost one of Warrington's most exciting new talents. 

The tragic news Viola Beach band members River Reeves, Jack Dakin, Kris Leonard and Tomas Lowe and their manager Craig Tarry had all been killed during a crash in Sweden sent shockwaves throughout the town. 

In the past year the families of the Viola Beach boys have ensured their memory lives on with the third RivFest at Parr Hall in the summer headlined by The Lottery Winners.

And just before Christmas a vintage shop honouring the band opened for business.

Situated on the top floor of Changing Lives in Warrington town centre, Vintage Viola sells pre-loved designer clothing, vintage high-street outfits and affordable fashion as well as providing a safe space for young people.

When the news broke the band had been involved in a fatal crash, the Warrington Guardian team were heartbroken by the news.

The band were due to attend our office for interviews and photos just days after the crash and lead singer Kris Leonard uploaded one of the band's tracks to BBC Introducing while he was cleaning the toilets of our former Warrington Guardian office on Bridge Street.

Therefore we wanted to create a fitting tribute to the boys who will always be in our hearts and memories.

Multicoloured umbrellas had become synonymous with the band thanks to photographer Georgia Park's pictures. 

In an interview with our Weekend editor David Morgan, the 20-year-old explained the brolly was grabbed on the way out to shooting pictures in the town centre. 

She added: "Jack had this quirky idea of having them all in the shower. It was tricky to work out as it was a really small bathroom.

"They all squeezed into the shower and Craig was having to hold the door shut so I could get into the corner."

Kris then had the idea for a photo with the phone boxes alongside Holy Trinity Church.

The lads changed their socks and shoes and spilled out onto the street in their wet clothes, grabbing an umbrella as an afterthought.

Georgia added: "Kris had the umbrella up and they were sharing two fags between the four of them.

"When we reached the phone boxes they were all helping each up and giving each other leg ups.

"There were a few shoppers around who were intrigued but the boys were really casual about it."

Warrington Guardian: Viola Beach. Picture: Georgia Park

Our photographer Dave Gillespie headed to the same spot one evening to try to recreate a picture which had been used by newspapers across the country. 

Using flashguns behind the umbrellas to light them up, he created this stunning image with five umbrellas representing each of the boys.

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The picture has been posted on the Warrington Guardian's social media pages on every anniversary of their tragic deaths while many others have also used it as their Facebook profile picture.

It's not the first time Viola Beach have been on the front page of the Warrigton Guardian. 

Our campaign to get the boys in the charts was used on the front page of our Warrington Midweek paper.

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As friends, family and fans mourned their loss, we felt a black and white front page was fitting for the following Thursday's paper.

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Weeks later, news of a tribute gig was announced

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It was an incredible night at the Parr Hall

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Before Coldplay provided them with an 'alternate future' headlining Glastonbury for one song

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And at the end of that year, the families were left with many unanswered questions following the inquest into the five deaths

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And a year on from the tragedy our 12-page legacy edition was published in tribute to Viola Beach and their manager Craig Tarry marking their number one album.

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