Widow and son, 6, lead mourners as Afghanistan blast victim comes home

Wendy Rayner placed single red and white roses and affectionately put her hand on the glass of the hearse carrying her husband, Sergeant Peter Rayner, as it passed through Wootton Bassett.

Their six-year-old son, Derek, also placed roses on the roof, in what has become a custom for mourning families.

Sgt Rayner, 34, from 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died while on a patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province on October 8. His body was flown back to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire where a private service was held.

Hundreds of people, including colleagues of Sgt Rayner and regiment veterans, lined Wootton Bassett High Street in tribute as the cortege passed by. A single bell tolled and a Royal British Legion standard party lowered their flags as the town fell silent.

Mrs Rayner was comforted by family as her husband's hearse stopped in front of the war memorial.

Nicknamed Skippy, the serviceman, a keen mountain biker and "avid" Bradford City fan, followed in the Army footsteps of his father. Having previously served in Bosnia and Iraq he died during his second tour of Afghanistan.

Speaking after her husband's death Mrs Rayner said: "Fantastic loving husband and father, son, son-in-law, brother and brother-in-law, who loved his job and doing something which he believed in."

Tributes poured in from comrades, including Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Boyd, Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who said: "He never let me down; always telling me the truth, always presenting a fresh opinion, always diplomatic and always underpinning our chats with his fine sense of humour.