A GWENT town fell silent at 12pm yesterday when residents gathered to mark the funeral of the latest Gwent soldier to die after fighting for his country in Afghanistan.

ALISON SANDERS was in Abergavenny to see Private Richard Hunt’s family and friends say their final goodbyes in an emotional service.

THE family and friends of Private Richard Hunt, and even strangers who were touched by his story, stood shoulder to shoulder for his funeral yesterday.

Up to 3,000 people gathered at Abergavenny’s St Mary’s Priory Church for the 21-year-old’s funeral.

This included the 1,000 people seated inside the church and many others standing.

Hundreds of other people, many who had never even met Private Hunt, waited outside the church on Monk Street and in the church grounds to hear the service played on loud speakers.

The crowds started arriving from 10.30am and waited in silence for the arrival of Private Hunt’s coffin.

His coffin, draped in the Union Jack standard and with a poppy wreath on top, was carried into the church by six bearers.

He received full military honours with a guard of honour made up of 12 soldiers from his regiment and around 45 other soldiers joined the mourners inside the church.

Fifteen standard bearers from across Gwent were also there as a mark of respect.

Private Hunt’s family, which included his mum and dad, Hazel and Phillip Hunt, his brother Alun, sisters Jayne and Fe, girlfriend Rhiannon Simmonds and his close friends, all held hands as they waited to follow the soldier’s coffin into the church.

Each of them wore a poppy and his sister Jayne wore a Jack Daniels t-shirt in honour of her brother's favourite drink.

Private Hunt became the 200th soldier to die from fighting in Afghanistan after being wounded in an explosion while on a vehicle patrol near Musa Qala in Helmand Province on August 13.

The 21-year-old from Abergavenny was a soldier with the 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh.

He was transferred to the Royal College of Defence Medicine in Selly Oak, Birmingham, where he died on August 15 whilst surrounded by his family and close friends.

Yesterday’s service was taken by the church’s assistant curate, Reverend Dr John Plessis, who described Private Hunt as a fine, young and talented man.

Eulogies were given by Private Hunt’s brother Alun Hunt who remembered him as “a brave and selfless young man” and his friend Jonathan Cholakian.

Mr Cholakian remembered playing in a band with Private Hunt who played the drums.

Mr Cholakian carried a drumstick with him into the church and read the Mary Frye poem “do not stand at my grave and weep”.

He said he promised to keep his friend’s memory alive and said it was an honour to call him his best friend.

The hymns, “Abide with me”, “I Vow to thee my Country” and “Guide me, O thou Great Redeemer”, were sung during the service.

The coffin was carried out of the church followed by his family and friends, while the song “I Gotta Feeling” by the Black Eyed Peas was played in the church.

In a poignant moment, the crowds started spontaneously clapping as the hearse carrying Private Hunt’s coffin pulled away from the church.

The service was followed by a private burial at Llanellen churchyward, close to his former school, where there was a firing party.

Private Hunt’s family invited close friends to their home later for a celebration of his life.