THE thoughts of communities across the Dales are with a family preparing to celebrate a birthday and the anniversary of the loss of a loved one.

Royal Marine Captain Philip Guy, whose parents live in Bishopdale, was among 12 servicemen who died in a helicopter crash in the Iraqi desert 48 hours into the conflict last year. It was to have been his last mission before returning home to be with pregnant wife, Helen, who had moved with son, Henry, to Skipton to be nearer the couple's families.

Capt Guy was among the first casualties of the war flown home for funerals held with full military honours.

Mrs Guy gave birth to daughter, Emily, on April 2, days before the service at Skipton's Holy Trinity Church, attended by more than 300 family and friends, while as many as 3,000 gathered outside to pay their respects.

A plaque in Capt Guy's memory has been erected at St Andrew's Church, in Aysgarth, not far from his parents' farm, and a tree was planted in his memory in the village of Preston-Under-Scar where he grew up.