Bristol Cathedral to host memorial service for student who fell to his death from Ben Nevis
A MEMORIAL service is to be held at Bristol Cathedral to celebrate the life of a Bristol University medical student who fell to his death while climbing Ben Nevis.
Ben St Joseph fell more than 300ft to his death on Britain's highest mountain last month.
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Ben Nevis
The third-year medical student had recently been accepted into the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC).
The 22-year-old was climbing Tower Ridge, a route popular with climbers, when he fell on January 26. He had ascended to 2,800ft up the 4,409ft mountain when he lost his grip and plummeted into an area known as Tower Gully.
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John Stevenson, team leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue, said it appeared Ben had been climbing alone.
“We do not know which part of the Tower he fell from,” he said. “But he was seen by two other climbers fall a long way.”
Ben’s father, Andrew St Joseph, a cattle farmer from Tollesbury, Essex, paid tribute to his son.
“He was a very fit and experienced climber and had been on Ben Nevis before,” he said. “He has climbed in the Andes and the Grampians and this climb was well within his capabilities.”
He added: “Ben knew about risk – he had flown in crop dusting planes in Australia and climbed in Peru and worked on a farm.
"We wouldn't want his death to discourage other young people from exploring the world and their limits.”
Lt Col Ben Tomkins of the University’s Officer Training Corps said: “Ben was a hugely bright, popular, hard-working, and dedicated young officer. He was a great leader and never pushed anyone harder than he pushed himself.”
In a statement his family said they hope that many of Ben’s friends and fellow students will attend the memorial service of thanksgiving and reflection at Bristol Cathedral on Wednesday, February 20. The service will start at 2pm, although those attending are requested to be seated by 1.45pm.
A spokesman for Bristol University said: “The family wish for this to be an uplifting occasion and encourage those attending to wear bright clothes and engage in joyful singing. They wish to meet the many people who knew Ben from the Officer Training Corps University community.”
A collection will be made for Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.
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