GAZETTE & HERALD: Mourners wiped their eyes as the coffin of Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson was carefully placed in the back of a hearse alongside a floral tribute from his seven-year-old daughter Poppy that read: "To Daddy missing you from head to toe."

As six uniformed servicemen bore the coffin from the church to the hearse, Tony Christie's number one hit song Amarillo rang out across the graveyard.

The funeral of the 34-year-old Lyneham hero, nicknamed Radio Gibbo because of his love of music, took place on Monday at St Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze the same church where, 14 years earlier, many of the same friends, family and service personnel had gathered for his wedding to Sheila.

Mourners stood in silence amid the graveyard's daffodils as a Hercules from RAF Lyneham flew low overhead in a mark of respect for a man described as being at the pinnacle of his profession.

During the service close friend Chris Rodham read the poem 'Do not stand at my grave and weep' before a eulogy was read by friend and colleague Gareth Evans.

The congregation chuckled as he recalled fond memories of Flt Sgt Gibson and in particular his enduring love of music.

"He would always play music, some of it good and some of it very, very bad. But the worst thing about Radio Gibbo was that just as you started to recognise a song he'd get so excited about the next song that he'd have to fast forward it," smiled Mr Evans.

He shared another story that, while waiting for a shower, Flt Sgt Gibson proudly told the man next to him that he'd only flown two hours in the last three weeks and how he'd spent the rest of his time playing golf and drinking.

The man replied by telling him that he was the detachment commander whose budget the flight sergeant had been happily working his way through.

"But of course Gibbo, as was his way, became best friends with him and came out smelling like roses," said Mr Evans.

During his sermon, one of the RAF Lyneham padres, the Rev Pete Tollerson, told of Flt Sgt Gibson's "unique sense of humour, his love of people, not least of all his love of his own family, his sociability, generosity, thoughtfulness and his love of music including karaoke".

He finished by saying: "Remember Gibbo as he was. Remember the good times and the fun, his love and his care for you.

"Also, in your grief remember the living particularly Sheila and Poppy. Continue caring for each other, as I know you have been, for you've all been touched by this terrible tragedy."

Speaking after the service Flt Sgt Gibson's flight commander, Squadron Leader Paul Taylor, paid his own tribute to a much missed fallen colleague.

He said: "Gibbo was a very good father, husband and all round top bloke. Wherever he went people enjoyed themselves and he was always the centre of the party."