Friday 22nd February 2008
Craig Hill
Craig Allan Hill, or “Fish” as he was popularly known to many, was born in 1973, to parents Allan and Jackie. He attended St. John’s School and Kingdown School, Warminster. He went to school and came home from school, but what exactly he did no one ever knew! His whole life seemed to revolve around roaming in Norridge Woods, shooting, or sitting on the banks of Shearwater.
On leaving school he went to college, to pursue his love of game keeping, but found this wasn’t his chosen career after all. He tried several different jobs before announcing that he was going to become a “rigger’ in the Royal Air Force.
His life in the Air Force proved to be an amazing experience for him. He travelled the world, spending time in Cyprus, the Falklands, Gibraltar, Iraq, Antarctica, and a final posting to RAF Leeming for time in the “office’.
Craig settled into the RAF way of life very easily; playing rugby, touring South Africa, which led him to do the biggest bungee jump in the world, as well as coming face to face with cheetahs. The RAF even had a fishing team, which allowed him to pursue his love of fishing. As a member of the team he was able to fish different banks around the country, taking part in competitions against the Army.
His all-time passion was clay-pigeon shooting, and he was a member of the RAF clay-pigeon shooting team, representing the RAF around the world. He was due to receive his colours for shooting, in May 2008.
The RAF even taught Craig to iron! And he used to say his main reason for joining the RAF was so that he “never had to eat sprouts or apple pie again”!
Although he had a busy life in the RAF, Craig was still, very much, a home boy. He regularly came home to Warminster from RAF Leeming on a Friday evening, to catch up with family and friends for a drink or two, a little fishing and shooting, and then went back to work late Sunday night.
His other passion was his two nieces, whom he absolutely adored and with whom he spent as much time as possible.
In the latter part of 2006 Craig met Sarah Davis and they set up home together at West Street, Warminster. Sarah was a rock to him and stood by his side ever step of the way through his fight against cancer.
Craig died on 14 February 2008, one year to the day from the diagnosis of cancer. He was 34. Throughout his battle against the cancer he amazed everyone with the way he just carried on with his life, even attending clay-pigeon shooting competitions. He would organise his treatment for early in the day so that he could attend the final round of competitions.
Craig was given a full military funeral at the Parish Church of St. Denys, The Minster, Warminster, on Friday 22 February 2008. The church was full to capacity with his family, friends, and RAF colleagues.