GAZETTE & HERALD: POIGNANT messages of hope and sympathy fill page after page of condolence books that have been set up in memory of the Lyneham servicemen.

Hundreds of wellwishers have signed the books, set up at 47 Squadron's headquarters and The Hive at RAF Lyneham, as well as one at the primary school where Flt Lt David Stead's widow Michelle is a teacher.

Especially moving were messages in tiny handwriting from Mrs Stead's pupils in class one. "I love you" and "I hope you feel better soon" adorned heart-shaped post-it notes.

Other notes read "You will be sorely missed but will always fly high in our hearts", "Our hearts ache for you" and "Memories are the souvenirs that make the good times last forever".

And a poem said: "It's hard to know just what to say, the words won't flow quite right today; you are in our thoughts and in our prayers, you need to know your special friends are there."

Cathy Stanford, head of Lyneham Infants School where Mrs Stead has been a teacher for seven years, said she is planning to give the book to the Stead family when it is full.

Mrs Stead, who taught part-time in class one, is currently on maternity leave after having her second daughter Holly four months ago.

Mrs Stanford said she had maternity cover until the beginning of the new school year in September.

"She has two little girls to look after now and obviously what has happened will make a big difference," said Mrs Stanford.

"A lot of parents of children who have moved on from us, as well as the children, have said they remember Mrs Stead fondly.

"People have been in to write in the book and children in her class several years ago have been saying what a fantastic teacher she was and the parents say how she made such a difference."

Mrs Stanford said the school had been prepared for something tragic to happen since the start of the Iraq war.

"We've had critical incidents training," said Mrs Stanford.

"But we were prepared to help the children more than a member of staff. It's been a very difficult time.

"One particularly touching time was on Friday when we joined in with the two minutes silence the station held. We went into the playground and stood in class circles so the children were standing with the people that mean the most to them.

"I rang the bell to signal the end of the two minutes and one teacher burst into tears. A teaching assistant gave her a hug and when I turned around the children were all hugging each other."

Mrs Stanford said the children had been coping extremely well. "We told the children there were a lot of sad grown-ups in Lyneham at the moment, and they came up with lovely ideas such as tell a joke or pull a funny face.

"We've had a few wobbly moments, but we're coping with each other's support."