Published: Monday, 8th February, 2010 5:47pm

Tributes to Afghanistan veteran killed in crash

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THE FAMILY of a Royal Air Force veteran of two tours of Afghanistan killed in a crash on the A329M near Reading on Friday have paid tribute to him.

Paul Payne, 23, from Wiltshire, died when his blue Fiat Punto crossed the grass area and hit a Ford transit van travelling southbound towards Bracknell.

He followed his father into the RAF in 2006 and is survived by his parents, Sally and Chris, sisters Abigail and Heather, niece Holly and a large family in Buckinghamshire.

His parents paid tribute to their son and said: "Paul was a devoted family person who was always polite, courteous and would always put others before himself. He brought sunshine to all those he met.

"He completed his education at Wootton Bassett School. During his time at senior school he participated in many sports, particularly in rugby, where he played for the local team; his friends there would remember his table football skills.

"His heart was always set on following his fathers' footsteps into the Royal Air Force and after a couple of part time jobs, he was elated when he was successful in May 2006. During his short service career he served in Kuwait and spent two tours in Afghanistan. Additionally his thirst for knowledge saw him participating in several career enhancing courses.

"He had many other interests including weightlifting, personnel fitness, music and a great love of films of all genres. He enjoyed socialising with a wide circle of friends throughout the country and was popular with every one he met. Although he was based in North Yorkshire he took every opportunity to come home to visit his family and friends.

"Paul will be especially missed by long term family friends Keith, Diane, Jessica & Matthew Benjamin of Chippenham and by Roy, Kathy, Kevin & Stuart McCaighy formerly of Swindon.

"Since his untimely death the response on his Facebook page has clearly illustrated just how popular our son was and he will be deeply missed by all his family and the emptiness of his passing cannot be expressed in any words."

Funeral details will be released at a future date.

Anyone with any information about the collision, which occurred at 5.30pm, is asked to contact PC Matt Woollams-Seeney at Three Mile Cross Roads Policing base on 0845 8 505 505 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.