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| Funeral of RAF fire family held | Funeral of RAF fire family held |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The funeral service for an RAF serviceman and his two children who died in a house fire at a military base in Cyprus has been held in Abertillery. | The funeral service for an RAF serviceman and his two children who died in a house fire at a military base in Cyprus has been held in Abertillery. |
| Cpl Andy Greenough, 37, from Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, died with his son Evan, five, and daughter Nia, two, at RAF Akrotiri on 17 March. | Cpl Andy Greenough, 37, from Abertillery, Blaenau Gwent, died with his son Evan, five, and daughter Nia, two, at RAF Akrotiri on 17 March. |
| Cpl Greenough's widow Eirlys said in a tribute read to mourners that they "loved life and they were my life". St Michael's church was packed with 400 mourners with a similar number outside. | |
| An inquest, which was opened and adjourned on Tuesday, heard they died after inhaling smoke. | An inquest, which was opened and adjourned on Tuesday, heard they died after inhaling smoke. |
| An RAF guard of honour joined the service. | An RAF guard of honour joined the service. |
| Cpl Greenough's coffin was draped with the union jack and bore his cap and medals, while his children's coffin carried the Welsh flag. | Cpl Greenough's coffin was draped with the union jack and bore his cap and medals, while his children's coffin carried the Welsh flag. |
| Cpl Greenough 'doted' on his two children | Cpl Greenough 'doted' on his two children |
| He was babysitting on the night the fire broke out and is believed to have spent the earlier part of the evening watching coverage of Wales beat England in rugby's Six Nations championship. | He was babysitting on the night the fire broke out and is believed to have spent the earlier part of the evening watching coverage of Wales beat England in rugby's Six Nations championship. |
| 'Loved life' | 'Loved life' |
| His wife, Eirlys, had been on a night out with other RAF wives, was comforted by family and friends, from home and Cyprus. | His wife, Eirlys, had been on a night out with other RAF wives, was comforted by family and friends, from home and Cyprus. |
| A tribute from Mrs Greenough was read out by the Rev Wing Commander Roger Hardman, who had been the padre in Cyprus. | A tribute from Mrs Greenough was read out by the Rev Wing Commander Roger Hardman, who had been the padre in Cyprus. |
| She wrote: "Andy, Evan and Nia loved life and they were my life. They had the special ability to make me laugh or smile in an instant. | She wrote: "Andy, Evan and Nia loved life and they were my life. They had the special ability to make me laugh or smile in an instant. |
| "I miss them very much. Take care my darlings and look after each other. I will love you forever." | "I miss them very much. Take care my darlings and look after each other. I will love you forever." |
| Mr Hardman said Cpl Greenough had loved the outdoor life and had wanted to join the RAF from a young age. | Mr Hardman said Cpl Greenough had loved the outdoor life and had wanted to join the RAF from a young age. |
| "As a young boy, Andy always liked the outdoor life, he loved playing with Action Man, camping and roughing it," said Mr Hardman. | "As a young boy, Andy always liked the outdoor life, he loved playing with Action Man, camping and roughing it," said Mr Hardman. |
| Cpl Greenough had been due to return to the UK later this year | |
| "He always wanted to join the RAF so, in the meantime, he attended the Air Cadets at Blaina and during this time gained the Welsh Feathers for swimming." | "He always wanted to join the RAF so, in the meantime, he attended the Air Cadets at Blaina and during this time gained the Welsh Feathers for swimming." |
| Evan was remembered as a boy who loved school so much he did not like weekends. | Evan was remembered as a boy who loved school so much he did not like weekends. |
| "He couldn't wait to start big school last September and he loved every minute of his time spent there." | "He couldn't wait to start big school last September and he loved every minute of his time spent there." |
| Nia was a "quiet little girl with a lovely personality". | Nia was a "quiet little girl with a lovely personality". |
| Mr Hardman said the family had been preparing to return to the UK in November this year, with the abandoned puppy they had adopted. | Mr Hardman said the family had been preparing to return to the UK in November this year, with the abandoned puppy they had adopted. |
| 'Dedication' | 'Dedication' |
| An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. | An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. |
| Cpl Greenough's sister Leanne Connor said her brother doted on his two children. | Cpl Greenough's sister Leanne Connor said her brother doted on his two children. |
| "He was a family man and they meant everything to him." | "He was a family man and they meant everything to him." |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Cpl Greenough had been a committed member of the RAF for 17 years and had been strongly recommended for promotion this year. | A Ministry of Defence spokesman said Cpl Greenough had been a committed member of the RAF for 17 years and had been strongly recommended for promotion this year. |
| He said: "His dedication and loyalty to his work were only surpassed by his love for his family and children." | He said: "His dedication and loyalty to his work were only surpassed by his love for his family and children." |
| The service was conducted by the vicar of Abertillery, the Rev Patrick Coleman, and the vicar of Dowlais, the Rev Matthew Hill. | The service was conducted by the vicar of Abertillery, the Rev Patrick Coleman, and the vicar of Dowlais, the Rev Matthew Hill. |
| The funeral was followed by a cremation service in Cwmbran. | The funeral was followed by a cremation service in Cwmbran. |