Funeral held for retired soldier Major Jonathan Wood

Jun 24 2009 by Rob Pattinson, The Journal

PROUDLY draped in his regiment’s colours, a soldier’s coffin was gently lifted into a North East church as the region paid tribute to one of its heroes.

Retired soldier Major Jonathan Wood was laid to rest in a service at St Mary the Virgin, in Whickham, Gateshead, yesterday, surrounded by family, friends and comrades from the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

After a life-time of adventure serving with the army across the globe, then working for a security firm in Afghanistan, Gosforth-born Major ‘Jono’ died unexpectedly in his sleep at home in Azerbaijan.

It is thought the 53-year-old suffered a heart attack after returning from work in Afghanistan to see two-year-old daughter Sophie Abigail and wife Stella Aliyeva, in Baku.

Yesterday, his elder daughters Kate and Alexandra bravely said a final farewell to their father.

Despite being retired from the army, the Major came ‘home’ to his four devoted sisters, to be buried with regimental honours in tribute to the service he provided his country.

A joint-statement released by his family said: “Jono was respected by so many and meant so much to us all. He really was very special and we will miss him so much.”

Among the mourners was close-friend Donald Campbell. The pair had known each other since Major Wood joined the army in 1979 and had been due to spend their leave together this month.