A long-serving regional press photographer has arrived in his own corner of heaven – by having his ashes blown through the funnel of one of his beloved steam engines.

John Reavenall, left, died earlier this year at the age of 63, just 14 months into his retirement from the Birmingham Mail.

Now John has made his final journey after his ashes were taken on board the Severn Valley Railway’s Erlestoke Manor locomotive which travelled from Kidderminster train station.

His cousin Alan Edwards placed the ashes into the firebox as the train passed the River Severn, near Bewdley, and the whistle tooted for half a minute to mark the unique send-off

Before the train departed, a memorial bench was unveiled in the waiting area at Kidderminster in John’s honour.

Then 50 friends and family climbed aboard to bid their farewells to the 63-year-old, who was affectionately known as ‘Reavers’ and ‘The Squire of Bournville.’

Former colleague Alan Williams, from Harborne, who worked with John for 21 years, said: “It was a wonderful end for a wonderful guy.

“It was very fitting and I’m sure he would have loved it. I’m sure he would have been watching and smiling at us.

“It will be a great memory for whenever any friends go there and sit on his bench. When they travel on the train and whenever they hear a steam engine whistle blow they will think of John.

“He was an exceptionally good photographer who always had time for his friends and colleagues and was always too willing to impart his acerbic wit and charm.”

Originally from Bournville, the award-winning photographer first joined the Birmingham Post in 1964 and continued to work for the paper and its sister titles for nearly 45 years.

After his death on 5 February, more than £730 was donated to the Severn Valley Railway, of which he was a life member.

John’s ashes are carried towards the waiting locomotive at Kidderminster Station

Comments

Northern Snapper (26/07/2010 08:53:51)
I bet he would have been really chuffed.

Subbed Out (26/07/2010 12:03:09)
Express delivery to Heaven…