Nathan's tribute to his dead friend (From Ludlow Advertiser)

Nathan's tribute to his dead friend

A SOUTH Shropshire man has paid a special tribute to his friend who was killed in a road accident in Italy.

Nathan Cameron, who works as a care worker in Ludlow, was able to draw on his background in stonemasonry to create a lasting memorial to ensure Christopher Ian Field will never be forgotten.

Nathan, who lives in Shipton, said: "Christopher was tragically run over in Convento, near Urbisagilia, while he was in Italy helping me work on a house. I saw him die and I wanted to do something for him, and for me, and it was a way of saying goodbye."

Nathan, who spent two years training at Bath College as a Prince's Trust craft scholar, set about creating a beautifully designed headstone that referred to different aspects of Christopher's life.

"The stone features a carving of a dolphin, because he loved them, and a cross similar to one that was part of the church near where Christopher was killed. I also included a tree because he was a gardener.

"We put a toy seal, a childhood favourite, in his coffin along with some cider, a bottle of wine Christopher had helped pick the grapes for, and some Shropshire soil."

Christopher, who lived in Onibury and was 30 when he died, was laid to rest in Italy. He is also remembered in his home community.

Nathan said: "He loved it in Italy and the people helped us in every aspect when he died. He had found a life there and he was probably going to stay but we also planted a tree at the green burial site in Westhope."

Nathan took the stone to Italy in a truck last month, and it was erected to mark the first anniversary of Chris's death.