Funeral takes place for Nine Elms helicopter crash pilot (From Sutton Guardian)

Funeral takes place for Nine Elms helicopter crash pilot Captain Pete Barnes

4:40pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News

The funeral of the pilot who died when his helicopter hit a crane in Nine Elms was held in his hometown of Reading on Friday.

Captain Pete Barnes, 50, a father-of-two from near Reading, was killed when his helicopter clipped a crane on St George's Wharf Tower on January 16.

Mr Barnes, who had 25 years and more than 12,000 hours flying experience as a pilot, had flown for the air ambulance and appeared in several films during his career.

The pilot's partner and their two children, aged 12, and eight, attended the service which included poetry and tributes.

Mr Barnes had flown in the Oscar-winning film Saving Private Ryan and Tomb Raider II.

A funeral for Matthew Wood, 39, who was killed by falling debris as he was walking to work near to the tower, is being held on Friday (February 15) at Morden Cemetery.

Part of Nine Elms Lane, where the tower is located, finally reopened this morning almost a month after the incident. It had been closed while specialist investigators scoured the area for evidence. TfL also said workmen had been making repairs to the road.