Farewell to a Hero
Western Daily Press
www.westpress.co.uk
5th April 2005
With thanks to Barry Leighton
and Richard Hudd Photograph
b.leighton@bepp.co.uk
On an overcast Monday an RAF Hercules aircraft flew over an ancient Wiltshire church in honour of fallen hero Mark 'Gibbo' Gibson. St Mary's Church, next to stately Lydiard House, near Swindon, was packed for the funeral of the popular 34-year-old Flight Sergeant.

A decade ago the beautiful little church in Lydiard Park was the scene of the airman's marriage to wife Sheila.

Yesterday, Mrs Gibson comforted their young daughter Poppy as her beloved father's coffin, draped with the Union Flag, was solemnly borne into the church by comrades. It was Flight Sergeant Gibson's boyhood dream to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Royal Air Force, and he signed up at the age of 18. He died doing the job he loved when his Hercules aircraft, based at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire, crashed in Iraq in January, killing all 10 British servicemen on board.

In a poignant service yesterday 'Gibbo' was tearfully remembered with love and affection by friends, colleagues and family. He was described as a wonderful family man, who also loved to enjoy himself - and couldn't resist a go at karaoke.

Lyneham-based RAF padre Rev Peter Tollerson said: "The tragedy of the loss of Mark - of Gibbo - and the rest of the crew and passengers is just that, a tragedy of deep regret. We're all diminished by it." Rev Tollerson spoke of Flight Sgt Gibson's "unique sense of humour, his love of people, not least of all his love for his own family, his sociability, generosity, thoughtfulness and his love of music.

He told mourners: "Remember Gibbo as he was. Remember the good times and the fun." Rev Peter Tollerson has kindly forwarded a copy of the sermon read at the church service yesterday. We thank him especially for this kind guesture. Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson's funeral sermon has been kindly forwarded to Lyneham Village Online, you can be read in full, Click Here.

A lone bugle rang out during the proceedings, while a C130K Hercules flew past, manned by Gibbo's comrades from the Hercules Operational Evaluation Unit. After the service at the "church in the park," a private cremation took place. Flight Sgt Gibson's funeral was the latest of RAF Lyneham's 8 Hercules heroes.

The first was on Wednesday last week when Squadron Leader Patrick Marshall, 39, was buried after a service at Cranwell, Lincolnshire. Two further funerals took place in Wiltshire on Friday, those of Cpl David Williams, 37, in Chippenham and Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42, at Wanborough, near Swindon.