A. SHELDON

Hundreds of people lined the streets of Kirkby and local businesses closed to enable residents of the town to pay their respects to the local soldier who was killed in Afghanistan, Rifleman Adrian Sheldon (25), of Beulah Road, Kirkby, whose funeral service took place at the town's St Thomas' Church, prior to burial at the nearby Kingsway cemetery.
More than 200 mourners, including comrades of his regiment, many friends from other regiments and members of the Royal British Legion attended the service, which together with the burial was performed with full military honours.
Educated at Kingsway Primary School and Kirkby College, Mr Sheldon was serving with the 2nd Batallion The Rifles in Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, when his Jackal patrol vehicle was struck by an explosive device.
He had enjoyed walking the dog, going on charity runs, football, darts, a selection of movies and music, but most of all he loved spending time with his family and friends and having fun in life.
Mr Sheldon leaves his parents, Diane and Mark Sheldon, of the same address, his sister, Amy, grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins.
Mourners were Mr and Mrs D. L. Sheldon, Miss A. Sheldon, Mr and Mrs G. Sheldon, Mr B., Sheldon, Mr and Mrs A. Scotney, Mrs M. Williamson, Mr A. Williamson, Mr A. Williamson, Mr P. Sheldon, Miss L. Scotney, Miss S. Scotney, Mr A. Moss (MoD), Miss K. Williamson, Miss M. Cooper, Miss A. Dykes; Mr A. Lemerle (representing Notts ACF); Mr N. Luke and Mrs D. Whitaker (representing SOS), Mr and Mrs C. and I. Swainson, Mr and Mrs A. and B. Dykes, the Rev E. Ashby; the Rev T. Mitchell (chaplain, Mansfield Town FC); Mr B. Dixon-Dobbs (representing Veterans Agency MoD); Mr D. S. Render (representing Rifles), Mrs A. Lowe, Mrs K. Allsopp; Mr K. Evans (representing 3rd East Kirkby Scout Group ACSL), Mr D. Ford, Mr T. Lindsell, Mr and Mrs R. Hardy, Mr and Mrs A. Meakin, Miss K. Scotney, Mr J. Boffey, Mr and Mrs K. and L. Drake, Mrs S. Waldron, Mr J. Walker; Mr V. Bunyon (county vice-chairman RBL), Mrs K. Pemblington; Mr G. Durant and Mrs Jackson (representing RBL), Mrs M. Wolff, Mr D. Atherton, Mr S. Hodges, Mr S. Sheldon, Mr K. Sheldon, Mrs J. Sheldon, Mr and Mrs B. Parker, Mrs G. Bowler, Mr M. Wharmsby, Mrs J. Connah, Mrs P. Priest, Mr R. Hewitt, Mr S. Cooke; Mr R. Allen (representing Mrs A. Allen); Mr J. Allen (representing Mrs A. Allen), Mr and Mrs P. Rodgers, Mr and Mrs S. Warsop, Mr and Mrs J. and L. Bell; Mrs J. Allinson (representing Mr and Mrs G. Bostock), Mr and Mrs H. Cooper, Ms J. Baxter; Mr S. McGaulley (representing Diamond Avenue WMC), Mrs S. Millward, Mrs J. Criam, Mrs C. Stainwright, Mr S. J. Barratt, Mr T. Simms, Mjr T. J. Roper, Mr B. Withers, Mr M. Copley, Mr J. Dexter, Mrs C. Freer; Mr M. Wills (representing RMA Notts); Mr T. Walsh (representing Press Association), Mr and Mrs J. Rogers, Mr G. Rogers, Mr M. Coates, Mr K. Ward, Mr L. Ounsworth, Mr M. Wright, Mr C. Wagstaff, Mrs C. Hannah, Mrs L. Wagstaff, Mrs K. Mortiboy, Mrs T. Sutherington, Mr and Mrs M. L. Brough, Mr R. Singleton, Mr R. Soos, Mr M. Stevenson, Mr and Mrs P. and G. Summers; Coun L. Wilmott (deputy leader ADC), Mr L. Dooley, Mr and Mrs D. Clarke, Mrs D. Dooley, Miss T. Dooley; Mr W. R. Rains (representing Rifles); Mr and Mrs D. and G. McGinn, Mr and Mrs D. and C. Holmes; Mr I. Merriman (representing 3rd East Kirkby Scouts, Ashfield District Council Scouts); Mr and Mrs V. Meakin (representing Miss B. Martin), Miss K. Martin, Mrs A. Martin, Miss H. Newton, Miss N. Payne, Mrs J. Shacklock, Mr L. Durkin, Miss S. Britton; Coun Mrs R. C. J. Martin (representing Lt E. Martin), Mr P. Bastion; Mrs L. Long (representing Lillian Hadfield), Mrs J. Swain; Mr and Mrs P. Moore (representing Craig Moore); Miss H. Lancashire (representing Mr and Mrs M. Lancashire), Mr B. Harris, Mr and Mrs K. and M. Harris, Mr D. Harris, Miss N. Harris, Mrs S. Phillips, Mrs E. Millward; Mr and Mrs P. Dallison (representing family), Mr and Mrs S. and V. Godfrey, Miss K. Godfrey, Mr H. Houldcroft, Mr T. Steudel, Mr C. Bryan; Mr L. Westall (representing LCPL); Mrs K. Perry (representing Mrs T. Brown and family), Mrs T. Shelton, Mrs E. Knowles, Mr A. Knowles, Mr S. Alvey, Mr M. Booth, Mr A. Francis, Mr S. Weaver, Mrs Y. Hunt, Mr P. Harris; Mrs V. Harris (representing Miss Waplington); Mrs A. Kelly (representing RBL); Mrs P. Symond (representing Jamie Symond RE), Mrs K. Williams; Mrs A. Else (representing Wayne), Mr S. Keane, Mr N. Musson, Mrs C. Edkins; Mr B. Readon, Mr R. Kelly and Mr J. Eggleshaw (representing RBL Jacksdale), Mr and Mrs R. H. Machin, Mr J. Machin, Mr and Mrs S. J. Haystead, Mr S. Parsonage, Mrs S. Forsyth, Mrs C. Leeh; Mr and Mrs I. M. Kerry (representing friends of Ashfield War Memorials), Mrs K. Bostock, Mr A. Sears; Mr J. Bradshaw (representing 2 Para ex members), Mrs J. Charlton, Mr and Mrs R. Males, S Sgt A. Males; Mrs D. Bowler (representing W. Stimpson), Miss J. Bowler, Mr M. Wharmsby, Mr and Mrs J. and S. Bowler; Mr A. Cousins (representing, Ann, Lee and Sarah Purdy), Mr D. Johnson, Mrs Y. Rowe; Mr J. Richards (representing RBL).
Representing Queen's Royal Lancers Old Comrades were Mr S. R. Barrs, Mr L. Elliott, Mr J. Hodgson, Mr M. Scothern, Mr I. Thomas and Mr G. Shirley.
Mr C. Swanson, Mr and Mrs D. and J. Rawkin, Mr J. H. Fenwick, Mr R. Burnet, Mrs J. Scothern, Mrs D. Smedley, Mr S. Scothern, Mr and Mrs R. and S. Nevin, Col Nicholson, Mr and Mrs M. and J. Lowe, Mr A. Feery, Mr P. Johnson, Mr D. Palmer, Mr P. Sharkey, Mrs R. Dexter, Mrs A. Betts; Mr and Mrs V. and D. Sears (representing Lesley, Debbie and Nigel Sears), Mrs G. King, Mrs L. Smith, Mrs L. Shaw, Mrs J. George, Mrs S. Chance, Mr and Mrs A. Cooke, Mr A. Bingley; Mr G. Broughton (representing RAFA), Mr G. Maxfield; Mr I. Lane (representing RBL Kirkby), Mr and Mrs R. M. Chambers; Mr D. Rowland (representing Black Watch Kirkby), Mr J. Gordon, Mr D. Radford, Mrs S. Lynes.
Coxmoor School representatives included Mrs D. Munro, Mrs C. Deakin, Mrs S. Neville, Mrs G. Marsh, Mrs V. Hardy, Mrs J. Robinson, Mrs B. Lynes.
Mr G. Huthert, Mr A. Bawamia, Mrs S. Shark, Mr D. Armstrong, Mr S. Allen, Mr M. Allen, Mr M. Beaney, Mr and Mrs C. Summers, Mr and Mrs L. Blower, Mr R. Bispham, Mrs V. Taylor, Mrs G. Bacon, Mrs E. Bailey, Mr J. Heappey, Mr M. Summers, Mrs D. Snell, Colonial Sgt Parsons, Mr and Mrs K. Else, Mrs S. King, Miss S. Richards, Mr K. Richards; Mr A. Lowe (representing ICS Waste Management), Mr and Mrs S. Scotney, Mrs L. Stafford; Mr A. Clarkson (Army mate), Mr and Mrs G. Stafford, Sgt G. Jones, Mrs A. Taylor, Mr M. Weston, Mr B. Natcher, Mr P. J. Durant, Mr T. Durant, Mrs P. Summers, Mr S. Hill, Mrs M. Love, Mrs S. Boultby, Mrs J. Colledge, Mrs S. Middup, Mrs S. Evans, Mrs S. Dove, Mrs M. Gregory, Royal Association Mansfield; Mrs M. Marsh (representing Coxmoor governors), Mr D. Taylor, Mr T. Wagstaff, Mr M. Kemp, Mr D. Fidler, Mrs N. Clarkson, Miss H. Lee, Mr M. Whitney, Miss S. Utting; Mr and Mrs D. Shelton (representing family), Miss R. Shelton, Miss D. Shelton, Miss T. Shelton, Miss V. Shelton, Mr B. Willoughby; Mr B. Dykes (chairman RBL), Miss K. Barker, Mr and Mrs S. and D. Cheetham, Mr and Mrs G. and B. Johnson, Mr and Mrs A. Ashton, Mr C. Lafferty; Mrs B. Lafferty (representing Thompson family), Miss L. Lafferty; Miss S. Lafferty (representing Stewart and Pauline Rowley), Phil and Jackie; Mr B. Stacey (president of Notts Highlanders).
Also at the service were comrades from the Second Battalion Rifles along with many other soldiers from other regiments.
Floral tributes and donations to the Army Benevolent Fund Help the Heroes, were from the above, family and friends.
The service was conducted by senior Army chaplain the Rev Steven Griffith, and arrangements were by K. Gregory & Sons Ltd.