MORE than 30 friends and family of Jamie Fleming, who tragically died following a road accident on April 18 last year, gathered at Shobrooke Park last Friday to release balloons in his memory.

Lance Corporal Jamie Fleming, from Spinning Path Gardens, Crediton, had spent four-and-a-half years in the Army, in the Royal Signals based in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.

He died, aged 21 years, at the scene of an accident involving his motorcycle and a lorry on Good Friday last year on the A487 Felindre Farchog to Cardigan Road.

The balloon release was organised by Sasha Snell of Sarah's Barber Shop in Crediton and she was helped by Steven Pyke and Becky Collins.

Crediton shop "Cartoonz" helped organise the helium-filled balloons and most people wrote personal messages on them.

Sasha welcomed everyone and gave a short speech.

Jamie's family were the first to release their balloons, followed by his friends, which included former Army colleagues.

Sasha explained: "It was almost the 12 month anniversary and I wanted to get everyone together to remember Jamie.

"Everyone misses him so it was nice to be able to write a message on our balloons before we let them off.

"A big group of people came along and afterwards we enjoyed some of Jamie's favourites, Haribo 'tangastics' sweets and drank Mojitos and Whiskey shots."

Also this week, Sasha delivered to the family, a bouquet of flowers and a metal poppy, which all those who went to the balloon release had contributed.

Flowers placed at memorial

Lewis Cobb of Crediton, and his girlfriend, recently visited the Royal Signals base in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, to place flowers at the memorial on which his former friend, Jamie Fleming, is remembered.

Balloon placed at grave

ONE of the balloons was saved from last Friday's balloon release and placed at Jamie's grave at Crediton Cemetery which is adorned with flowers, messages and other items. AQ 5304