A ROYAL Marine killed in Afghanistan was a “whirlwind” who lived everyday to the maximum, his family said.

Sgt Luke Taylor from Burton was shot dead by a rogue Afghan soldier last month and his funeral is at Christchurch Priory on Thursday.

He was a devoted family man and athlete whose colleagues remembered his professionalism and sense of humour.

His devastated wife Niki remembered a loving father who was always looking for the next challenge at home and in work.

She told the Echo: “He was full of life, like a massive pool of energy – he would come through the house like a whirlwind.”

Luke, 33, from Burton, was killed at the entrance of the main operating base in the capital of Helmand, Lashkar Gah.

He had been a Royal Marine since 1997 and Niki said it was his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan since she met him on a night out in Bournemouth 10 years ago.

He was dressed as Santa – and he won her over with his cheeky jokes.

“He said, ‘If I make you laugh, go out with me and if I stop making you laugh, you don’t have to,” said Niki. “And I never stopped laughing.”

The couple married at Bournemouth registery office in 2008 and Luke doted on their son Roan, who is four in May.

He loved sleeping on the sofa with his son and watching their favourite programmes together like You’ve Been Framed.

Nikki said: “He was an amazing father who loved doing everything to do with being a father, like taking Roan BMX-ing at Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre.”

Luke phoned Roan every day when he was posted elsewhere in the UK, and took story books to Afghanistan to read over the Internet using Skype.

Niki added: “Roan doesn’t understand why his dad can’t come through the computer anymore.”

Luke had been very active since his own childhood – he was a member of Beavers, Boys Brigade and the Dorset Army Cadets.

His parents Phil and Julia live in Bournemouth and Julia said: “No words can encapsulate his vitality, the way he lived every day to his maximum, tiring us all out.

“I was so proud of him, I could never have asked for two sons better than Luke and Jake.”

Luke went to St Clement’s School and Bethany School in Boscombe and Twynham School in Christchurch.

Niki added: "It was so comforting to see so many familiar faces when we arrived at Carterton for Luke's repatriation."

• THE funeral of Royal Marine Sergeant Luke Taylor will be held with full military honours at Christchurch Priory at noon on Thursday.

His family have politely requested no flowers but for donations instead in Luke’s memory to the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Donations may be sent courtesy of funeral director Chester Pearce Associates.

More details on 01202 612 110 or from www.chesterpearce.com.