A whirlwind

Into Reading this morning; while Mrs L went to the bank to transfer the funds for our house purchase the spaniel and I had a wander around a couple of churches. No great stained glass but I did come across this interesting piece of Victoriana, a wooden memorial in the graveyard at the church of St Laurence. It is a tribute to Henry West, a carpenter who lost his life on 24th March 1840 while working to complete the roof of the new railway station, part of Brunel's Great Western Line between Bristol and London. While working on the roof lantern a whirwind struck the area ripping off the roof and taking the 24 year old with it. His body was found 200 yards away in a trench on the other side of the station. 

The inscription reads: "Sudden the change, in a moment fell and not had time, to bid my friends farewell, yet hushed be all complaint, 'tis sweet, 'tis blest, to change earth's stormy scenes, for endless rest. Dear friends prepare, take warning by my fall, so shall you bear with joy, your Saviour's call." 

The original memorial was made from a railway sleeper and stood at the end of one of the platforms. It was removed during one of the many revampings of the station.