The Renault Clio after the collision with a lorry on the road to Lyneham near Sutton Benger last ThursdayGAZETTE & HERALD: RAF Lyneham serviceman Neil Griffiths, who was killed in an horrific car crash last Thursday, was due to walk his sister down the aisle in five weeks time.

Mr Griffiths was commuting from his home city of Swansea back to the airbase to begin his shift when the crash occurred on the B4069 near Sutton Benger.

The 30-year-old, who was affectionately known as Griff to his friends, was driving his blue Renault Clio towards Lyneham when he was in collision with an articulated lorry at around 6.40am.

The lorry driver received minor injuries and the road was closed for four hours while police carried out investigations.

Single Mr Griffiths lived on the airbase but is thought to have spent a lot of his spare time in Swansea, which is where his family live.

His parents split up when he was a teenager, and he was going to be giving his sister away at her wedding.

This week colleagues at RAF Lyneham, where he had been working as a senior aircraftsman since 2000, said he would be remembered as a "true character on the squadron".

Mr Griffiths' flight commander, Flight Lieutenant Rob South, said: "Griff could always be relied upon to find the brighter side to even the most trying circumstances.

"Forever smiling, his mood was infectious and a corner stone of the morale on his flight.

"Whether at work or social events his easy-going and fun-loving attitude captivated all those around him and he will be sorely missed by his many friends and colleagues.

"An accomplished tradesman, Griff was extremely well respected for his hard work and technical ability, both at Lyneham and when on operational detachments.

"Indeed his efforts on his most recent deployment to Basra at the start of this year received enormous praise; his cheery personality once again shining through despite the harsh conditions, to the great benefit of his fellow comrades.

"An intelligent and skilled individual, Griff had recently completed training as a plumber and was eagerly looking forward to the new challenges that this career change would offer him on leaving the service.

"A loyal, jovial and proud Welshman, Griff was an integral member of the flight; his smiling character will be remembered by all those who knew him."

Mr Griffiths joined the RAF in September 1997 and completed basic training at the Number One School of Technical Training in Cosford. He graduated as an aircraft electrician in August 1998.

He completed his first tour on 216 Squadron at Brize Norton as a first line engineering tradesman on Tristar aircraft and was subsequently posted to Lyneham in October 2000.

Mr Griffiths was initially employed on 47/LXX Squadron working on the C130-K Hercules aircraft. He transferred to 24/30 Squadron and the C130-J model before his most recent employment on Hercules Line Squadron.

Station commander Group Captain Paul Oborn said: "On behalf of the station I would like to express our deep sadness in hearing of the tragic news regarding SAC Neil Griffiths.

"He will be sorely missed by his friends and colleagues. Our thoughts, and our full support, are with his family at this time of great personal grief."