Moving tributes have been paid to the pilot killed in the Glasgow helicopter crash as around 700 mourners attended his funeral.
A week after the tragedy that claimed nine lives, David Traill, 51, was described as “the greatest friend a man could hope for” in the service at Glasgow University.
Friends, family and former colleagues from the RAF and the emergency services gathered at Bute Hall for the memorial led by Reverend Stuart MacQuarrie.
The university chaplain said he was sure that Captain Traill’s skills as a pilot with more than two decades’ experience had prevented the loss of further lives on the ground when the helicopter crashed on to the roof of the Clutha pub on November 29.
Pub owner Alan Crossan attended the funeral along with Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Stephen House, Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill.
Police officers, air ambulance pilots and paramedics formed a guard of honour as Capt Traill’s coffin arrived at the university, the cortege led by police outriders and a friend of Capt Traill who rode a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
Capt Traill, originally from Falkirk, was a former RAF pilot and instructor who served in both Gulf wars.
Since 2008 he was employed by Bond Air Services and worked as a civilian pilot for the Glasgow-based Scottish Air Ambulance and Police Scotland.
Mr MacQuarrie said: “David died in tragic circumstances when the helicopter he was flying plunged to the ground with little or no warning.
“From what I’ve learned in the last few days of this brave and courageous man, I’m absolutely certain that David would have done absolutely everything he could to safeguard his colleagues in the aircraft and people who were on the ground.
“I’m convinced that David’s skills and experience indeed minimised the loss of life on the ground.”
Capt Traill’s father, Iain, sobbed as he read the David Harkins’s poem You Can Shed Tears to mourners. The widower had read the same lines at the funeral of his younger son, Angus, three years ago.
Mr Traill, originally from Harris in the Outer Hebrides, had moved in with his older son and his fiancee, Lucy, over the summer following an illness.
Capt Traill, who is also survived by three nephews, was due to marry his partner whom he met on a blind date almost five years ago. She said in a tribute read by the minister: “Dave was the best thing that ever happened to me. Things weren’t exactly hard when we first met but he gave me the freedom to really be me for the first time.
“I knew Dave only for four years and nine months and three days, but they were all precious.”
Mourners were invited to sing along to the Proclaimers’ Life With You – a song that Capt Traill and Lucy had planned to play at their wedding, possibly for their first dance, the minister said.
Andy Rooney also paid tribute to his friend from their days in the RAF.
He said: “He was the greatest friend a man could hope for. A steady, loyal brother in arms.”
Prayers were said at the service for the eight others who died in the crash.