TROOPER Jason Roughley was laid to rest with full military honours, following a service at Selby Abbey.

Jason, of North Duffield, died on November 24 after a car crash.

He was afforded full military honours yesterday as the Life Guards, which are part of the Household Cavalry, pulled out all the stops to honour him.

The Rev Francis Loftus, who was also Jason’s head teacher when he was a pupil at Barlby High School, helped officiate at the funeral and gave the address. He said more than 200 people had been in the Abbey for the service, many of them young people.

Mr Loftus told The Press: “I said if you want to sum Jason up in three words it was sport, his mates and the Army. He had been a professional footballer, but he loved cricket and fishing, and his mates; he had loads and loads of mates.

“He was of course doing well in the Army. He had escorted the Queen and the President of India and then of course it all ended with this accident.”

Jason’s coffin was borne by comrades from the Life Guards who also fired three volleys of shots over his grave at St Helen’s Church in Skipwith.

Captain Tari Mundawarara, who attended the funeral, said two state trumpeters played the Last Post and Reveille.

Jason’s mother was presented with the Union Flag that her son’s coffin was wrapped in, as well as his Life Guards cap and belt.

All the Life Guards’ senior officers were at the funeral along with his colleagues – about 50 in total.

A spokesman for the Household Cavalry said: “We pulled out all the stops and it was a real show of support and affection from the squadron.”

As well as his Army career, Trooper Roughley was well known in the Selby district for his footballing skills, having previously played for Selby Town and latterly Riccall United. The accident in which he died took place in the early hours of November 1 between 1.15am and 2pm at Skipwith Common.