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Hundreds gather to pay their respects
More than 900 people attended a full military funeral to pay their respects to a man who inspired many through his sporting achievements in the army.
The funeral of former Kettering resident, Cpt Mark Chapman, 54, was held at Aldershot Garrison Church after he died following a fall.
His daughter Lauren Chapman, 27, who lives in Corby, said: "He was great, so caring. He was always there for us.
"He was just a great mentor to a lot of people, especially to myself and my two brothers, but to anyone he came into contact with."
Cpt Chapman, whose funeral was held on May 13, spent his childhood living in St Peter's Avenue, Kettering, and attended St Andrew's Primary School and Kettering Grammar School before joining the Army in 1975.
He spent 26 years in the Army, serving in Bosnia, Germany and Northern Ireland.
An Army boxing trophy, the Chapman Memorial Cup, has been named in honour of Cpt Chapman, who enjoyed canoeing, rugby and cycling and served as secretary of the Army Sports Control Board (ASCB) for more than four years.
A spokesman for the ASCB said: "Losing Colin is a great loss to Army sport but also to the Combined Services Boxing Association, who came to successfully rely upon him on many occasions.
"He will be much missed by the military and civilian boxing fraternity as well as his colleagues and friends.
"All of the boxing world who knew him will retain fond memories of Colin Chapman, but our deepest thoughts go to his wife and three children at this tragic time."
Cpt Chapman is survived by his wife Claire, sons Iain and James, and daughter Lauren.
His body was found in Gosport on April 26 with injuries consistent with a fall. Earlier, he had been attending a party on a decommissioned Navy vessel. An inquest has been opened and adjourned although police are not treating his death as suspicious.
A service for the internment of Cpt Chapman's ashes will be held at St Andrew's Church, Cransley, on Sunday, September 20, at 9.30am.
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Weather for Kettering
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Temperature: 4 C to 7 C
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