FORMER RAF colleagues of a motorcyclist who died in Blackburn have expressed their shock and sadness after hearing of his death.

Kevin Donaghue, 46, died after being involved in a collision with a car in Higher Ramsgreave Road on Monday.

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The Clayton-le-Moors resident, who toured Iraq during the 2003 war, was taken to Royal Preston Hospital with multiple serious injuries but died a short time later.

Friends and former colleagues from his time in the RAF and the RAF Auxiliary Corps have paid tribute to ‘Dinky Donaghue’ who served his country for almost 20 years.

Warrant officer Chris Copeland first met Kevin, who was born in Geneva, when he left RAF West Raynham in the early 1990s where he had worked as a gunner on Rapier Missiles.

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He joined 2620 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment at RAF Marham as a part-time gunner.

Warrant officer Copeland, now based at RAF Honington in East Anglia, said: “It was a huge honour to know Kevin and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.

“He was a gentle giant and he never had a bad word to say about anyone.

“He was kind, friendly, just a very nice guy.

“It was a big shock when I heard the news and a lot of people who knew him from his RAF and reservist days want to get in contact with his family and pay tribute to him in a fitting way.

“Kevin is still well known in the RAF and reservist world and he was a big character during his time in uniform.

“Renowned for his superb ironing skills, we use to pay him do our kit. He had a great sense of humour which was demonstrated when we went to work on firing ranges at Hythe and Lydd for our two weeks annual camp.

“The gentle giant who could never speak bad of anyone, he was always keen to have a laugh even at his own expense.”

Mr Donaghue was then encouraged to apply to become a commissioned officer and got a position which involved languages in Bedfordshire.

He eventually moved on from the posting to become the adjutant, a squadron administrator, with 19(F) Squadron at RAF Valley on Anglesey with the rank of flight lieutenant.

He became the longest-serving adjutant for the squadron and stayed in the post until a few years ago when he decided on a career change.

Wing commander Dan Beard, commanding officer at RAF Valley, said: “He served his country with the Royal Air Force over a long and distinguished career.”

“He was a loyal and committed airman who provided the administrative and ceremonial ‘glue’ for a busy squadron.

“His untimely death has had a deep impact on all who knew him and he will be sorely missed by his friends and former colleagues in the Royal Air Force.”

His dad, Alan, said: “He was a very nice guy and he worked very hard to make friends and keep them.

“He decided that he wanted a career change and he was studying to become a minister in the church when he died.

“He will be missed by a great many people.”