TODAY Christchurch says farewell to a hero.

It’s a word that is vastly overused in this age of celebrity, not least when it comes to sportsmen and women.

After 11 years of the war in Afghanistan, we should all be aware of what the true definition is.

And Luke Taylor was a hero.

At the highest level, the 33-year-old Royal Marine served Queen and Country until his death at the hands of a rogue Afghan soldier last month.

Hundreds of people, many of whom did not know him personally, will be turning out to give him a fitting send-off on the streets of the town and in the Priory.

Luke was also a bit of a hero on a more prosaic level in the village of Burton where he lived with his family.

The sort of bloke who would turn out and help, move things and generally do whatever was needed when help was required.

As a husband, a father, a soldier and a community hero, the ‘whirlwind’ will be missed.