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Hundreds attend funeral of 102-year-old WW2 veteran

Ian Palmer,in Tenterdenand
Rebecca Kenyon,South East
News imageBBC Colin Deverell looks to camera, he is wearing a yellow checked waistcoat and blue polka dot shirt, with his medals proudly displayed. BBC
Colin Deverell took part in air raids across Germany during World War Two

Hundreds of people have attended the Kent funeral of an RAF veteran who died in December at the age of 102.

Colin Deverell, from Tenterden, joined RAF Bomber Command in 1943, aged 19. He rose to the rank of flight lieutenant on Lancaster and Stirling Bombers, flying more than 38 missions during World War Two.

In 2018, he was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest distinction, for supporting the French Resistance by dropping supplies.

His funeral was held on Friday at St Mildred's Church, Tenterden, where his coffin was draped in the RAF's colours and carried past a Guard of Honour formed of members of the Tenterden branch of the Royal British Legion.

News imageIan Palmer/ BBC A woman with short red hair looks directly into the camera. She is wearing an orange velvet jacket and green patterned scarf. She is standing in a graveyard and graves can be seen in the background. Ian Palmer/ BBC
Elaine Evans cared for Colin Deverell in his own home before his death in December

Elaine Evans, a care worker who looked after Deverell who still lived independently before his death, said: "The key thing with him, he had determination and that shone through.

"He was determined right to the very end. He was determined to get to his 102nd birthday which was incredible but he wanted to be there for his family.

"He was quite an incredible man."

News imageIan Palmer/BBC Two woman look in to the camera with slight smiles. The woman on the left has long blonde hair. She wear a blue tartan scarf and a blue grey wool coat. The woman on the right has short grey hair with a wave. She wears green glasses. She has a black coat on and is wearing a floral top with a floral scarf in black, green, yellow and purple.Ian Palmer/BBC
Liz Deverell and Ann Chadwick, Deverell's daughters, said he was a "lovely dad"

Deverell's daughter Liz, attending the funeral with her sister Ann, remembered their father as a man with an "extraordinary life", who had enjoyed a visit to 10 Downing Street in May for the 80th VE Day celebrations.

"My dad thoroughly enjoyed that and we got to see inside number 11 and we were shown the cabinet room and that was such a thrill," she said.

"My dad was able to sit in the prime minister's chair which Winston Churchill sat in, so that was amazing for my dad."

News imageIan Palmer/ BBC Three teenagers stand looking into the camera. The boy on the left hand side has brown hair and is wearing a white shirt and black jumper. The girl in the middle has long brown hair. She is wearing a black coat, a white shirt, a black jumper and a blue tie. The boy on the right hand side is wearing a black blazer, navy blue tie and a white shirt. He has brown hair.Ian Palmer/ BBC
Luke, Katherine and James Thorne, Deverell's great-grandchildren, said he was "always so kind and thoughtful"

As well as being a father, Deverell was a grandfather, great-grandfather and great- great-grandfather.

His great-grandson, Luke Thorne, said his grandfather had "given us a lot to live up to".

News imageIan Palmer/ BBC A man with grey hair looks at the camera. He wears a grey suit and white shirt with an navy and burgundy diagonally striped RAF tieIan Palmer/ BBC
Retired RAF officer Colin Wyver said Deverell was a "very heroic man and yet a very gentle, quiet man"

Retired RAF officer Colin Wyver described himself and Deverell as "kindred spirits".

He spoke of the time a fire had broken out in the rear of Deverell's plane and he had to take off his parachute and crawl the length of the aircraft.

"He tackled it with a small fire extinguisher and his bare hands," said Wyver.

"The end result was of course the fire was put out but he ended up severely burning his hands."

Deverell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for displaying exceptional valour while saving his crew.

Wyver described his friend as "a very heroic man and yet a very gentle, quiet man" and "an example for us all".

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