The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Friend puts his best feet first for unique tribute
Parents ‘blown away’ by shoes presented before fundraising night
A late Dundee musician has been immortalised with his own pair of unique trainers.
Tributes were paid to popular Lee Welsh following his death in July. The talented guitarist played with Dundee band Modern Culture and loved mod culture.
Following Lee’s death, the 27-yearold’s family have tirelessly campaigned for mental health awareness.
On Saturday, before a fundraising night held in Lee’s honour, his parents Phil and Lesley, were presented with a pair of specialised Adidas trainers emblazoned with Lee’s face, name and signature.
The trainers were created by Lee’s friend and designer Kris Boyle.
The tribute, according to Lee’s mum Lesley, has left the family “blown away”. She said: “Lee always wore Adidas. “The shoes are totally made for Lee. He would have thought they were brilliant and would have them right on his feet. Kris and Lee were at school together and played in rival bands.
“Kris got in touch with Lee’s cousin and asked for a couple of pictures of him. Next thing , Kirsty, Lee’s sister, was looking for Lee’s driving licence – she wanted something with his signature. I asked Kris what his plan was, but he said: ‘Nothing, nothing’.”
Lesley continued: “We met up with family in the Victoria Bar before heading up to Skyaxe for the race night and Lee’s cousin brought out this brown box, an Adidas box.
“On it, it had: ‘In loving memory of Lee Welsh, shine on, you crazy diamond’.
“We opened it up and were totally blown away. There was a picture of Lee on the tongue and ‘Welshy’ under the picture. Lee’s signature was on the back heel tab.”
Kris, who played in fellow band, The Trend, said the gift was a tribute to Lee.
He said: “I had wanted to use a picture of Lee with his guitar, like a silhouette, but in the end I got his signature sent over and used that.
“Lee was a brilliant guitarist, he was the driving force in his band.”