Tributes to rail death dad (From Wiltshire Times)

Tributes to rail death dad

8:17am Friday 30th March 2007 in Trowbridge By Charley Morgan

THE death of a young father on a railway track in Trowbridge on Sunday afternoon has left family and friends mystified.

Paul Reynolds, 34, who lived in Manor Road on the Studley Green estate with his partner, two-year-old daughter and two stepchildren, was found dead on the track near Studley Bridge, off Dursley Road, at about 5.30pm after being struck by a train.

It is believed Mr Reynolds' body was discovered by children. His family and friends say there was no way he would have committed suicide and believe his death was a tragic accident.

His partner, Amanda Williams, was too upset to talk to the Wiltshire Times, but her father said Mr Reynolds was a devoted father.

He said: "I think he must have just fallen asleep by the tracks and not woken up in time before the train came. He was a good lad. He looked after the children and he was a genius with numbers."

Best friend Mark Rose, of College Road, added: "It is totally unexpected, I keep thinking he's going to call me and tell me it's a big joke. He was definitely not suicidal, he was not that type of person."

He said the former Clarendon School pupil was found by the railway line a year ago and thinks he sometimes went there for some quiet time to think.

"He wasn't the sort of person to get depressed. He liked a drink but if he had a problem he'd talk about it to his mates," he added.

Mr Reynolds leaves his daughter Amy Jane, and two stepchildren Conor Clark, 11, and eight-year-old Becky Clark.

British Transport Police and Wiltshire Police were called to the scene of the incident following reports that a person had been hit by the 3.57pm London to Exeter train.

An investigation has been launched but they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Mr Reynolds' friends and relatives left tributes to him on the Wiltshire Times website.

Mark Ramsey, from Trowbridge, said: "Paul was a good friend and will be missed by all of his friends - thinking of you always."

Jamie Annal, also from Trowbridge, added: "Paul was a good friend and we will miss you so much, my heart goes out to your family at this sad time. Always in our thoughts."

Mark Jones, 35, from Trowbridge, said: "I've known him since he was six years old and he would never have taken his own life, he loved his daughter too much."

His aunt Linda Williams, from Stoke on Trent, said: "He will be very sadly missed by all of his extended family."

Devizes Coroner's Court was due to open an inquest into the death this week.