More than 100 mourners gathered for a balloon release in memory of Caerphilly legend Gary Rees. Family and friends braved a downpour at Morgan Jones Park to pay their respects to the "true gentleman" doorman and lorry driver following his sudden death.
Gary Rees was badly hurt in Oakdale on July 4 when a HGV driver travelling on the wrong side of a road hit his lorry head-on, but he was able to leave hospital the next day and appeared to be recovering over the following weeks. The 55-year-old was interviewed by WalesOnline last Wednesday but died that night at his Caerphilly home. The cause is yet to be confirmed.
Gary's wife Hayley and sons Macauley, 26, and Jorge, 19, were among those who paid tribute at the emotional balloon release on Tuesday evening, which saw blue love hearts fill the air. Macauley said: "An hour before he passed he was literally bouncing around the living room on his crutches. He was taking the mick out of family members. It’s a lot easier to take when it's expected but for it to be so sudden, that's the worst part.
