RAF man and children killed in fire.
Gazette and Herald
29th March 2007
www.gazetteandherald.co.uk
Up to 700 mourners gathered to say goodbye to an RAF Corporal, formerly based in Lyneham, and his two children killed in a Cyprus house fire. The funeral of Cpl Andy Greenough, Evan, aged five, and two-year-old Nia, was held at St Michael's Church in the serviceman's home town of Abertillery, South Wales. The two children were born while Cpl Greenough was stationed at Lyneham.

All three were killed in a blaze at their home at RAF Akrotiri on the evening of March 17. Cpl Greenough's wife Eirlys was not at the house at the time and was supported today by about 30 service and civilian friends and colleagues from Cyprus, in addition to local family and friends.

Many mourners lined the town's steep and winding High Street to listen to the service via a speaker system once the small church became full, with some watching from shop windows and the roof of a car park.

The Corporal's coffin arrived at the church draped with the Union Flag and bearing his cap and medals, while the children's shared coffin was covered by the Welsh flag.

During the service, the Rev Roger Hardman, who had been supporting the family in Cyprus, paid tribute to a man who loved the outdoor life and had wanted to join the RAF from a young age.

He also remembered Evan as a boy who loved school so much he did not like weekends, and Nia as a quiet little girl with a lovely personality. Mr Hardman told the congregation: ''As a young boy, Andy always liked the outdoor life, he loved playing with Action Man, camping and roughing it.

"He always wanted to join the RAF so, in the meantime, he attended the Air Cadets at Blaina and during this time gained the Welsh Feathers for swimming."

He said the Corporal started his career in the RAF in February 1990 and met Eirlys at a hangar dance in 1994. They married four years later and started their new life together with a posting at RAF Akrotiri.

In October 1999 Andy was detached to the Falkland Islands which would have meant spending Millennium Eve away from Eirlys. But, Mr Hardman added: "He was quite fortunate to dislocate his shoulder playing rugby against the Royal Navy... and was flown First Class to Cyprus and saw the new Millennium in with Eirlys and their friends."

The couple's two children were born during their next posting at RAF Lyneham and they returned to Akrotiri in November 2004 "to the lifestyle they all loved so much".

Of Evan, Mr Hardman said he had made his family proud by being chosen to play Joseph at his pre-school's Christmas production.

"He couldn't wait to start big school last September and he loved every minute of his time spent there. He didn't like weekends so much because that meant no school. "He was a very popular little boy with both staff and pupils and everybody knew who Evan was."

He said that Nia had attended Akrotiri creche from the age of eight months.

"Staff knew her as a quiet little girl with a lovely personality. She would only ever admit to playing with girls and when asked their names would always reply, 'I don't know I forgot to ask'."

Mr Hardman said the family had been preparing to return to the UK in November this year, with the abandoned puppy they had adopted. "They will all be missed," he concluded.

"Andy for the excellent contribution to Queen and Nation through his dedicated service in the RAF, his charity work and most of all as a loved member of a close family. And the children, Evan and Nia, for their fun and their enthusiasm and for their love."

Mr Hardman finished by reading a tribute written by Eirlys: "Andy, Evan and Nia loved life and they were my life. They had the special ability to make me laugh or smile in an instant. "I miss them very much. Take care my darlings and look after each other. I will love you forever."

The service, which included the traditional Welsh hymns Calon Lan and Cwm Rhondda, was led by Rev Patrick Coleman who told the congregation the lives of those close to Andy, Evan and Nia had been torn apart.

He was joined by Rev Matthew Hill, vicar of Dowlais, as Mrs Greenough's father is a server at a church in his parish. The cortege later made its way to Gwent Crematorium. A book of condolence will remain open at the church until the weekend when the pages will be bound and presented to his family.

Speaking before the funeral, Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Cavanagh, command officer of the Cyprus service support unit, said the deaths had had a massive impact on the entire military community in Cyprus. "The scope of the tragedy is difficult to behold.

It's truly, truly tragic and our thoughts are with the family on this day," he said.

He added that it was a sign of Cpl Greenough's popularity that there was no shortage of volunteers to act as pallbearers. "Andy will be remembered as a true family man and a lover of rugby," he said. An inquest into the deaths of Cpl Greenough and his children was opened and adjourned on the 28th March 2007. Newport Coroner's Court heard that all three were killed by inhaling fumes during the fire. Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing.