TAXI drivers gathered together today (Friday, April 3) to pay tribute to a man remembered as a “true Yorkshire gentleman” who died at the wheel of his cab.

Father-of-two Peter Maltby had been a taxi driver in Thirsk for more than 20 years, but died after suffering extensive injuries when his Ford C-Max left the road on the A172 near Stokesley last year.

The 59-year-old had dropped off passengers in Stokesley just after 10pm on Saturday, September 6, when his car veered left and hit the kerb near the Ingleby Cross crossroads. His taxi then swerved across the road before coming to rest in undergrowth.

When he failed to return to his Northallerton home, numerous friends and taxi drivers from Thirsk, Northallerton and further afield joined forces to look for him in a search which stretched as far afield as York, before his car was found next day.

Today (Friday, April 3) his colleagues gathered together to pay tribute to the avid Middlesbrough FC supporter, by unveiling a bench and memorial plaque in Thirsk, where Mr Maltby was so well-known.

About 20 people attended the ceremony, including his wife, Maureen, and their two children, Kirsty, 25 and Matthew, 23.

The idea for the bench and plaque was spearheaded by taxi driver Kevin Andrew, who along with Thirsk Taxi drivers donated money.

He said: “It’s a memorial bench to remember Pete Maltby. It was something all his colleagues in Thirsk wanted to do so we bought the bench and we gathered in Thirsk to put on the plaque.”

Mrs Maltby said she and her two children wanted to thank Kevin and the other drivers.

“As a family we’re so proud the taxi drivers thought to put this memorial in place for Peter and that they thought so much of him because he was so well-liked and will be missed by all.”

She said the bench, which is by the taxi rank and can be used by people waiting for taxis, or drivers waiting for fares, was a fitting tribute to her husband.

“He loved his job – he loved the people and the customers. He was known by a lot of people in the town and had lots of regular customers, he did school runs and had a lot of elderly passengers.

“He would go over and above and do anything for anybody. He was popular with the taxi drivers as well and very much a family man.

“He was a true Yorkshire gentleman through and through.”