THE chairman of a veterans group which holds repatriation ceremonies for British troops killed in Afghanistan has died following a short illness.

Tim Spearey, chairman of Sedgefield Village Veterans in County Durham, died on Wednesday evening (November 5) at the age of 65.

Mr Spearey, who served with the 28/61st Gloucestershire Regiment, helped set up the group in 2005 and was passionate about honouring those who lost their lives in active service.

Under his leadership, Sedgefield Village Veterans has become a highly respected organisation, providing support and companionship for ex-servicemen and women from across the North-East and staging regular charity events and 1940s weekends.

Its repatriation services, in honour of British casualties in Afghanistan, led the veterans to receive Durham County Council’s prestigious Chairman’s Medal in 2012.

In 2011, when discussing why the veterans held these services, Mr Spearey, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, said: “Once you have served, you are part of a family.

"No matter how long ago or how recently it was, if someone gave their life for this country, they should be honoured.”