British Legion standard bearers
lined the route as the 38-year-old's coffin, draped in the
union flag, was carried into the chapel by six of his RAF
colleagues. Inside the chapel, Eva Cassidy's Fields of Gold
was played, chosen by his sister Sarah. And then it was time
to remember Bob, not only for his RAF career, but for the
person he was.
The eulogy was given by Sgt Paul (Polly) Parrott and a poem
was read by Bob's stepson, Neil Thomas. Padre Mike (Wing Commander)
Elliot told Bob's assembled family and friends: "The
impact (of his death) is as great to those of us who knew
him as that of the Pope to his faithful community. "Both
men died doing their job and both men fought for freedom,
whether against the communist regime that bound Poland or
the Saddam Hussein regime which bound Iraq. Bob died doing
the job he loved."
At the end of the service Bijou by Queen was played as it
was the special song of Bob and his fiancè Coll, who
lived together at Fazeley Marina and were due to marry later
this year. As the coffin was borne out of the chapel, a piper
from RAF Halton's pipe band played Amazing Grace. A "K"
type Hercules aircraft flew low over the scene before Bob's
coffin was placed in the hearse to travel to the crematorium.
White doves were then released as a symbolic gesture. |
