The moving pictures of the five daughters of Britain's oldest soldier killed in Afghanistan walking hand-in-hand at his funeral
1st May 2008
Daily Mail
The five daughters of the oldest soldier killed in Afghanistan and Iraq supported their mother at his funeral today.
Gary Thompson, 51, died after being wounded by a roadside bomb while on a security patrol around Kandahar Airfield on April 13.
His wife and daughters hugged each other as mourners and well-wishers looked on at the start of the emotional funeral.
Emotional: The five daughters of Gary Thompson and his wife walk behind his coffin
SAC Thompson, 51, was fatally wounded by a roadside bomb while on a security patrol around Kandahar Airfield
Mourners waited as the coffin was carried into the church where Mr Thompson and his wife Jacqui were married.
The father-of-five from Nottingham died alongside fellow Senior Aircraftman Graham Livingstone, 23, in the blast just outside what is the main Nato base in southern Afghanistan. Two other servicemen were injured.
Today hundreds of mourners gathered outside St Jude's Church in Mapperley, Nottingham, ahead of the funeral service which is being held with full military honours.
SAC Thompson's flag-draped coffin arrived at the church shortly before 12.30pm.
He was a keen rugby player and on top of the hearse was a wreath shaped as a rugby ball.
Next to his coffin flowers spelt out the word "Dad".
Support: Gary Thompson's daughters comfort each other at the funeral
Full military honours: Gary Thompson's coffin was draped with a flag
His wife and daughters hugged each other as mourners and well-wishers looked on.
A fly-past by a Harrier marked the start of the 1pm service.
Mourners waited as the coffin was carried into the church where Mr Thompson and his wife Jacqui were married.
The service is being led by Reverend Stephen Silvester, who also married the couple.
Tragic: This RAF airman finds it hard to hold back the tears
United in grief: Mourners gather outside the funeral
Members of Christ The King School Choir are also taking part in the service.
Mr Thompson's five daughters attended the school and the choir was formed in his memory.
Tributes from friends and family will be made at the service, followed by the song You'll Be There from the film Pearl Harbour.
Tragic loss: Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson's daughters Kelly and Jordan (back row, left to right) and Jade, Laurie and Amiee (front row, left to right)
Rev Silvester will lead a bible reading and address, and then he and RAF Chaplain Rev Peter Tollerson will say prayers for Mr Thompson.
The service will end with prayers of commendation followed by the Last Post and Reveille and the music Nimrod, by Edward Elgar.
A committal will be held after the service at Bramcote Crematorium.
The order of service, featuring photographs of Mr Thompson throughout his life, thanked everyone for their kind words of sympathy and support.
dailymail.co.uk
1st May 2008
Daily Mail
The five daughters of the oldest soldier killed in Afghanistan and Iraq supported their mother at his funeral today.
Gary Thompson, 51, died after being wounded by a roadside bomb while on a security patrol around Kandahar Airfield on April 13.
His wife and daughters hugged each other as mourners and well-wishers looked on at the start of the emotional funeral.
Emotional: The five daughters of Gary Thompson and his wife walk behind his coffin
SAC Thompson, 51, was fatally wounded by a roadside bomb while on a security patrol around Kandahar Airfield
Mourners waited as the coffin was carried into the church where Mr Thompson and his wife Jacqui were married.
The father-of-five from Nottingham died alongside fellow Senior Aircraftman Graham Livingstone, 23, in the blast just outside what is the main Nato base in southern Afghanistan. Two other servicemen were injured.
Today hundreds of mourners gathered outside St Jude's Church in Mapperley, Nottingham, ahead of the funeral service which is being held with full military honours.
SAC Thompson's flag-draped coffin arrived at the church shortly before 12.30pm.
He was a keen rugby player and on top of the hearse was a wreath shaped as a rugby ball.
Next to his coffin flowers spelt out the word "Dad".
Support: Gary Thompson's daughters comfort each other at the funeral
Full military honours: Gary Thompson's coffin was draped with a flag
His wife and daughters hugged each other as mourners and well-wishers looked on.
A fly-past by a Harrier marked the start of the 1pm service.
Mourners waited as the coffin was carried into the church where Mr Thompson and his wife Jacqui were married.
The service is being led by Reverend Stephen Silvester, who also married the couple.
Tragic: This RAF airman finds it hard to hold back the tears
United in grief: Mourners gather outside the funeral
Members of Christ The King School Choir are also taking part in the service.
Mr Thompson's five daughters attended the school and the choir was formed in his memory.
Tributes from friends and family will be made at the service, followed by the song You'll Be There from the film Pearl Harbour.
Tragic loss: Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson's daughters Kelly and Jordan (back row, left to right) and Jade, Laurie and Amiee (front row, left to right)
Rev Silvester will lead a bible reading and address, and then he and RAF Chaplain Rev Peter Tollerson will say prayers for Mr Thompson.
The service will end with prayers of commendation followed by the Last Post and Reveille and the music Nimrod, by Edward Elgar.
A committal will be held after the service at Bramcote Crematorium.
The order of service, featuring photographs of Mr Thompson throughout his life, thanked everyone for their kind words of sympathy and support.
dailymail.co.uk
