500 at final farewell to Welshpool plane crash victim Bob Jones

More than 500 people turned out to pay their respects to Mid Wales Airport owner Bob Jones who died in a plane crash on the Shropshire and Mid Wales border.

A private family funeral was held on Saturday followed by a thanksgiving service attended by hundreds of mourners.

Father-of-two Mr Jones, 60, founder and manager of the airport in Welshpool, died along with Steven Carr, 55, from Ruthin, Denbighshire, on January 18 when the seven-seater Piper Navajo light aircraft they were in came down on the Long Mountain, near Leighton, close to Welshpool.

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It is not yet known what caused the crash and investigations by police and air accident officers continue. The Air Accident Investigation Branch says it could take months for the investigation into the crash to be completed.

Before the services the hearse was driven down the runway at the airport to meet the funeral cortège, which then made its way back along the runway, driving past some of the planes Mr Jones had flown.

The procession then moved on to Welshpool Cemetery in Mount Street where a private service was held for Mr Jones' family.

While the family was at the service, Mr Jones's friends and colleagues from the airport paid their own tributes by carrying out a flypast above the cemetery. A light aircraft flew over the town.

This was followed by a tribute from the Wales Air Ambulance, which has used the airport as its base since 2006. The distinctive red helicopter hovered above the cemetery and dipped its nose in a 'bow' as the crew paid their respects to Mr Jones.

Following the private ceremony, the bells rang half muffled at St Mary's Church in Welshpool as hundreds of Mr Jones' friends and family made their way inside for a thanksgiving service.

There was standing room only at the back of the church as more than 500 people listened to Reverend Steve Willson deliver a fitting tribute to a man he described as 'a friend to everyone he met'.

Mr Jones' love of flying was very much reflected in the service, with his lifelong passion for aeroplanes highlighted in the tributes compiled by his family.

These tributes were read out by the reverend during the service, and brought laughter from many people in the congregation as he described Mr Jones' early attempts to build Airfix aeroplanes, then progressing to rubber band-powered aircraft, and then to building diesel engines on his mother's kitchen table.

"He was a man who could have a joke with anyone. He had met many famous names and royalty through the airport, including Harrison Ford, but his best friends were always the local people," he said.

"In 2010 he had prostate cancer, but it didn't slow him down. While he was unable to fly he took walks and tinkered at the airport. After an operation and a session of radiotherapy he returned to flight.

"Christmas was a particularly special time because the airport would close for a few days and he would spend time with his family.

"He showed his sons they could achieve anything they wanted through hard work and determination. He leaves behind a very close family who will continue to build on his example."

The poem High Flight, written by Flight Officer John Gillespie McGee, a pilot who died in an accident in 1922, was read out in the middle of the service by Mr Jones' son Chris, who has inherited his father's love of flying and is currently serving with the RAF as an instructor. And Mr Jones' widow, Linda, read out another poem, Impressions of a Pilot by Gary Claud Stoker, which describes a pilot's joy.

The family chose lines from the poem to be printed in the order of service to sum up Mr Jones' life: "Should my end come while I am in flight,

Whether brightest day or darkest night; Spare me no pity and shrug off the pain, Secure in the knowledge that I'd do it again."

At the end of the service members of the Wales Air Ambulance crew formed a guard of honour at the door, paying their last respects to Mr Jones, who was also a farmer at Trehelig in Welshpool, and the support he had given the charity over the past six years.

Former Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik was one of the many local businessmen who attended the service. He paid tribute the Mr Jones after the service.

"Bob was the best pilot I've ever flown with. I've flown to every corner of Britain with him and we always got back safely," he said. "With Bob passing on we've lost one of the great sons of the area. He died in a way which was fitting to his passion but it's still hard to believe he's gone.

"I am sure that wherever he is now, they'll have given him his own wings."

During the service prayers were also said for Mr Carr, a former RAF pilot turned music producer, whose funeral was held on Friday at Pentrebychan Crematorium in Wrexham.

See also:

• Fly-past and procession in tribute to Welshpool plane crash victim

• Tributes for Welshpool plane crash victims

• Plane went down in perfect flying weather

• Welshpool airport boss victim of plane crash horror