A FINAL salute has been paid to a former soldier from Keighley following his death aged 54.

St Joseph's Church at Ingrow was packed for the funeral service, with full military honours, of Tommy Thompson.

He spent over two decades with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, and devoted much of his life to supporting fellow veterans and service personnel through the Royal British Legion.

It was almost inevitable that a young Tommy, one of seven children, would join the army. He was destined to become the fourth generation of the family in the services, and the third to serve with the Dukes.

"As a child we had to buy him plastic soldiers which he would play with until he progressed to Action Men!" says one of his siblings, Mary Lister.

"He was never going to be anything but a soldier!"

After attending St Joseph's School at Ingrow and Holy Family in Keighley, the army cadet joined up as a regular at the age of 18.

He served with the Dukes for 22 years, seeing distinguished service across the world – including tours in Northern Ireland and Iraq.

"Latterly it became the Yorkshire Regiment but to Tommy it was always the Dukes – he was really proud to serve with the regiment," says Mary.

Tommy did various jobs after leaving the army, but the services remained central to his life.

"He threw himself into his work with the British Legion," Mary adds.

"Tommy became welfare officer and he would always go to see other veterans to chat with them and offer support. He loved spending time with 'the old boys'. There was that camaraderie between them."

He also served as Keighley's poppy appeal organiser for several years, as well as selling poppies himself, and was parade marshal at the town's Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

He was standard bearer too for the Legion, and a number of standards were in evidence at St Joseph's Church – and Oakworth Crematorium afterwards – as comrades paid their final respects, alongside family members and friends.

"The church was full and people were stood outside which shows just how well thought of Tommy was," says Mary. "We've had so many messages from people.

"He was a character. And if people needed anything doing, he was there."

Tommy was also a lifelong Leeds United fan, and the club anthem Marching On Together was played going into the crematorium.