Cyril 'Eric' Rollings WW2 Dakota pilot funeral at Eye Church. EMN-191223-144915009Cyril 'Eric' Rollings WW2 Dakota pilot funeral at Eye Church. EMN-191223-144915009
Cyril 'Eric' Rollings WW2 Dakota pilot funeral at Eye Church. EMN-191223-144915009

Final guard of honour for Peterborough war hero Eric

A Royal British Legion led the coffin of a Second World War veteran into church as friends and family said an emotional goodbye.

The funeral of Cyril Eric Rollings - known as Eric - was held at St Matthew’s Church in Eye on Monday.

Eric served across the globe during the war, flying a range of planes including Hurricanes and Dakotas in a number of different campaigns.

He died earlier this month in Peterborough aged 98.

Friends and family were joined by representatives from the armed forces at the funeral, and Eric’s coffin was given a guard of honour at a service at Peterborough Crematorium following the church service.

Veterans and serving personnel wore medals as they said their final farewells in the December sunshine.

Eric had a distinguished career in the RAF, serving in South Africa, Burma and in the Desert, Sicily and Italy campaigns.

He was posted to aircraft rescue and recovery where he and his team often worked behind enemy lines decommissioning aircraft.

After leaving the RAF in 1946 Eric had a varied career within engineering sales, eventually owning a manufacturing equipment company. He was a member of Peterborough Yacht Club and Longthorpe Bowls Club and for the last 6 years he has been residing at the Spinney in Eye.

Eric left behind two daughters, Sally and Nita, a grandson, Ben and wife Daphne.

A collection for the RAF Benevolent Fund was held in Eric’s memory at the service.