THE wife of a bomb disposal expert killed in Afghanistan led emotional tributes to her husband yesterday as hundreds of family members, friends and comrades gathered for his funeral.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood, from Middlesbrough, died after being caught in a blast on December 28, only days after organising Christmas dinner for his men.

His wife, Heather, paid tribute to him at a full military funeral at St John the Evangelist Church, in Middlesbrough, yesterday.

“Charlie Henry Wood was the most wonderful, thoughtful and caring man I have ever known,” she said. “He was always the life and soul of the party.”

“There are no loose ends – no words unsaid. I know exactly how much he loved me and he knew how much I loved him. Until we meet again, sleep tight Mr Wood.”

The hearse, draped in a Middlesbrough FC scarf, paused at the Riverside Stadium and a childhood home in Ayresome Street, Middlesbrough, before arriving at the packed church.

Floral tributes spelling out son, husband and hero travelled with the coffin.

WO2 Wood’s widow left a note saying: “To my Charlie, I will love and miss you for the rest of my life.”

The note was signed, “Mrs Wood”.

Mourners wept as they watched the coffin, draped in a Union flag, pass through a military guard of honour before entering the church.

His family, led by Mrs Wood, followed behind.

During the service, she brought smiles to the congregation with stories of her husband’s love of pink jumpers and how she first saw him singing Elton John’s Crocodile Rock at a pub karaoke.

On Christmas Day, the 34- year-old arranged a hot dinner for nearly 150 soldiers, organised an appearance by Father Christmas and the giving of presents, as well as coordinating the clearance of a 20kg improvised explosive device (IED).

He was caught in a blast from an IED as he led the clearance of a route through the Khushdal Kalay area of the Helmand River Valley, in southern Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Dom Fletcher, commanding officer of 23 Pioneer Regiment, said Christmas was important for WO2 Wood.

“Charlie Wood loved Christmas and wanted to make it special in a difficult environment,”

he said. “He took a Christmas tree and decorations out with him. He was a hugely popular guy. He was a larger-than-life character with a fantastic sense of humour.

He died doing a job he loved, a dangerous job, and one he volunteered for.

“It is a tragedy. He had the makings of an outstanding soldier. It is a huge loss to the Army.”

WO2 Wood joined the Army in 1994 and also served in Iraq and Bosnia.

He was deployed to Afghanistan on November 6 as an advanced search advisor, trained to co-ordinate the detection of IEDs.

WO2 Wood was a keen charity supporter and recently organised a 24-hour run in aid of Help for Heroes. He leaves his wife, his mother Barbara, father John and sisters Samantha and Amanda.

His friend, Sergeant Neil Henley, also of 23 Pioneer Regiment, said: “We joined up 15- and-a-half years ago and that’s when our friendship began.

“Charlie was a very nice lad and a genuine person. His character was infectious and no one had a bad word to say about him.

“He was a fantastic role model and a very professional soldier.”

The Last Post and a gun salute sounded before the coffin was carried from the church, accompanied by Crocodile Rock.