The memorial to Tom Cribb in Woolwich Churchyard

Image: © Marathon Taken: 22 Dec 2020

I went to Woolwich Churchyard in search of two gravestones with epitaphs which have been widely quoted. Unfortunately, every single gravestone had been cleared to turn the churchyard into a featureless patch of grass. The only memorial left is this one to Tom Cribb, who was a world champion English bare-knuckle boxer. The memorial was paid for by public subscription. When Tom retired from the ring, he went to live with a son who had a bakery just along Woolwich High Street. He died in 1848 and there is a pub in Woolwich called the Tom Cribb. For more about Tom Cribb see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cribb At least someone in the past had noted the inscriptions on the two gravestones I was looking for: “Sacred to the memory of Major James Brush who was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol by his orderly, 14th April 1831. ‘Well done good and faithful servant’.” Also: “As I am now, so you must be, therefore prepare to follow me”, but someone later added “To follow you I’m not content, until I know which way you went.” Lions in churchyards and cemeteries are not unheard of. There are the ones for George Wombwell in Highgate Cemetery - see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5870551 and for 'Gentleman John' Jackson in Brompton Cemetery - see https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2715556

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