A military funeral has been held to honour the memory of Lance Bombardier Wayne Cosentino, who died in an off-duty road accident in Canada.
Army personnel joined his family and many friends for the service at All Saints Church, Houghton Regis, on Thursday, August 9.
Parents Michael and Rosalyn, of Church Road, Totternhoe, were touched by the huge attendance at the service for the dedicated 25-year-old soldier.
Comrades from Z Battery, 5th Regiment Royal Artillery carried his coffin, and the regimental flag was flown at half-mast.
After the service, they provided a military escort for the hearse as a procession made its way from the church to Houghton Regis Cemetery.
An honour salute was fired in memory of the soldier, and a bugler sounded The Last Post.
Wayne’s parents passed on this message to the Gazette: “The soldiers’ attendance and the vast amount of family and friends who came would have made Wayne as proud of all of us as we all were of him.
“The respect shown outside the church by onlookers and workmen alike, who respectfully took their hats off, was very humbling.”
> Wayne’s friends at Totternhoe FC are holding a charity memorial match as a tribute to him on Sunday, August 19, at the club’s ground.
The event will raise funds for Help for Heroes.
Anyone who would like to attend is asked to arrive 12noon-12.30pm.
A minute’s applause in honour of Wayne will be held before the 1pm kick-off.
There will also be face-painting, a cake sale, a barbecue and a raffle to boost the charity funds.