Tom Gaden - funeral and bike procession today

The service for former Bishop Fox's pupil Cpl Tom Gaden will be held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton.

For photos from the funeral procession and church, click on the Related Link, right.

At his family's wish it will be a full military service, followed by a private cremation.

Those wishing to pay their respects to Tom are welcome at the church.

If numbers exceed capacity the service will be relayed outside by a PA system.

The funeral cortege will make its way to St Mary's Street via East Reach, East Street, Fore Street and Hammet Street.

Representatives from the Army will attend along with civic leaders including Taunton Deane Mayor Tim Slattery.

Military buglers will sound the Last Post and Reveille, and three volleys of shots will be fired at the end of the service before the cortege heads to the crematorium.

By request of the family, people are asked to make donations rather than give flowers, which will be divided between the Special Care Baby Unit and Oncology Unit at Musgrove Park Hospital and the Tom Gaden Memorial Fund.

Donations can be left at the service or by telephoning 01823-272139.

A motorcycle procession will precede the funeral of the bike enthusiast.

Arrangements have been made for fellow motorcycle lovers to form a guard of honour in East Street as the funeral cortege passes through on Monday.

Gordon Kemp, of Taunton motorcycle riding school Pride, was asked by Tom's mum, Judy, to organise a bike procession in memory of her son.

He said: "I trained Tom, his dad Nick and Judy.

His mum wanted to see as many motorcycles as possible at Tom's funeral.

"We're also getting some stickers made up to sell which will go into a trust fund for Tom's kids.

" Gordon is calling on all local employers to let staff have an early lunch break so they can join the bike procession, which starts at 10am from the First bus depot in Hamilton Road.

County Hall staff members have already been told they can line the streets to pay their respects.

Bikes will then proceed to East Street before the arrival of the funeral procession as it makes its way to the service - riders can leave their bikes at the church.

All on-street parking along the full length of the road will be prohibited from 8am to 11am on Monday.

Magdalene Street, Church Square and Hammet Street will be closed to traffic from 9.

30am until 1pm.

Tom's mum said: "Tom shared his father's passion for bikes and they both rode similar Hondas.

"He was a hard-working soldier and liked nothing more than to jump on his bike and work off some of the adrenalin by green-laneing and coming back caked in mud with a big grin on his face that said it all.

" Cpl Tom Gaden, of 1st Battalion The Rifles Regiment, was killed when the Land Rover he was travelling in hit an explosive device while on a routine patrol in Gereshk district, central Helmand province.

Lance Corporal Paul Upton, 31, and Rifleman Jamie Gunn, 21, fellow members of 1st Battalion The Rifles Regiment, were also killed in the blast.

The three soldiers, all based in Gloucestershire, were part of a team mentoring Afghan forces.

This week his mum thanked well-wishers ahead of the funeral.

Speaking to the County Gazette, Tom's mother Judy said she couldn't thank people enough for their kind thoughts and support.

Tom, a former Bishop Fox's student, leaves behind his mum, dad Nick, pregnany fiancee Amanda, sister Ruth and brother Sam.

Judy said Tom was going to legally adopt Amanda's daughter, Kimberley, once they were married.

Their own daughter, Lucy, will be two on April 25, while their second child together - a boy to be named Charlie - is due on April 8.

Judy said: "My heart's broken at the loss of such a special son who was a soulmate to Amanda.

"We're all devastated and can't believe this awful truth, but on behalf of my family and that of Amanda I'd like to thank the people of Taunton and the Army Welfare for all their help.

" Tom was in the Somerset Army Cadet Force and the Blackbrook Scout Troop.