GARY GOLBEYA Gulf War veteran who developed a brain tumour but went back on active service had died, aged 42.Colour Sergeant Gary Golbey, originally from Kidsgrove, was taken ill in 2005, when he was part way through his second tour of service in Iraq.But he fought back from his illness to return to the army while in remission.The Army was Gary's life from the moment he signed up to join his local regiment back in 1987.The champion Army boxer spent more than two decades with the Staffords – now 3 Mercian – and saw active service in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq, where he completed two tours of duty.Colonel Tim Sandiford, former commanding officer of the Staffordshire Regiment, said: "Gaz was a larger than life character from day one and I know I speak for the rest of the battalion when I say that it feels like a light has gone out."He was charming, cheerful and irrepressible. As well as a fantastic soldier I will also remember him as a great sportsman, both as a boxer and footballer."Gaz had great strength of character and the way in which he dealt with his illness earned him enormous respect from everyone he met."When the boys took the salute in Hanley and then went on to a Stoke game at the Britannia Stadium, it was very telling that the focus of the day was as much about Gary as it was the battalion as a whole – such was the depth of feeling for this remarkable bloke."He was survived by his wife and two children.
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