THE sound of gunfire will ring out to honour hero Royal Marine James Wright from Weymouth whose funeral will be held in the town next week.

It has been confirmed that Marine Wright’s full military funeral will be held at St John’s Church at 1.45pm on Tuesday. The service will be followed by a private cremation.

Marine Wright, 22, was killed when his patrol came under fire from insurgents in Afghanistan on Friday, August 5.

The town of Wootton Bassett came to a standstill last week for his repatriation to the UK when his body was brought into RAF Lyneham.

Many of Marine Wright’s comrades from Plymouth-based 42 Commando are still fighting in Afghanistan so will be unable to attend the funeral but former ‘Juliet’ company commander Major Steve McCulley who knew him will be there.

The funeral party will be provided by the rear operations group 42 Commando and will consist of six coffin bearers and a salute-firing party of 12.

Royal Navy chaplain the Rev Keith Robus will be assisting the Rev Mike Stear of St John’s who is leading the service.

VIPs attending include The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Mrs Valerie Pitt-Rivers and the Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Graham Winter, who was James’s teacher when he was a pupil at St Nicholas and St Laurence School.

After the service a bugler from the Royal Marine Band Service will play the Last Post and Reveille and a gun party will fire a volley of shots before the coffin is placed into the hearse.

James Robert Wright is a former Wey Valley School student whose ambition was to join the Royal Marines. He was said to be immensely proud of wearing the green beret and died doing a job he loved.

He leaves his mother and father Sallie and David, younger sister Katie and long-term girlfriend Shelley Robertson who is expecting their first child.

James’s family said he was always smiling with a wonderful sense of humour as well as being kind and considerate.

He was a motocross fan who also enjoyed playing the guitar, football, spending time with his friends and going on adventures.

One of his friends, Mike Clarke, 22, said of James: “I’ve never ever met anyone who was so unbelievably driven but so relaxed and chilled out at the same time.

“He would walk into a room and alter the mood. He was such a positive influence. He was such an amazing bloke. We were proud to know him.”

n The family of Marine Wright have requested that only flowers from close relatives be sent. People can make a donation to the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund through Co-operative Funeral-care on 01305 772789.

Free parking for those attending the funeral is available at the Hotel Rembrandt in Dorchester Road, Weymouth, on the day from 10am onwards.