A MUCH-LOVED RAF pilot who was killed in a mid-air collision will always be remembered after a road was named in his honour.

Samuel Bailey, who was born and raised in Hockley, died aged just 36 along with two colleagues in the RAF.

His family, dignitaries and Armed Forces representatives joined together for a ceremony as a he was honoured with a road named Samuel Bailey Drive on the £17.9million housing development built by Beech Grove Homes.

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The estate has 72 properties on the site of the former Bullwood Hall prison in Hockley.

Sqn Ld Bailey had been an instructor with 15 (Reserve) Squadron since 2004 before the crash in July 2012.

He died along with Bangorborn Flt Lt Hywel Poole and Flt Lt Adam Sanders, 27, who grew up in Lancashire.

Sam’s sister Megan Morgan said the road naming is a “touching tribute.”

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She said: “Sam packed a lot into his tragically short life and, despite his RAF career taking him up and down the country and around the world, he never lost touch with this part of Essex and came back regularly to visit family and friends, enjoying the opportunity to catch up over a few drinks at The Bull.

“He had been looking forward to being best man at his close school friend’s wedding the following year in Southend, which sadly was not to be.

“Sam is still greatly missed by his friends and family. The family is deeply honoured by this touching tribute to Sam by Sanctuary Housing and Rochford District Council and are grateful to Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois for his hard work in securing this lasting legacy to Sam’s memory.

“With a love for aviation from an early age, for Sam, a career in the RAF seemed almost inevitable. Sam grew up in Hockley, attending Hockley Primary, Greensward School and SEEVIC.

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He spent a large part of his childhood building Airfix kits and watching the aircraft at the gliding club where his dad Mick was an instructor and his nephew Elliot is currently a member.

“By the time he was 18 he had obtained his Private Pilot’s Licence along with the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

“Sam went on to study at the University of Hertfordshire and graduated in 1998 with a degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering.

During his teenage years, Sam was a keen member of the Air Training Corps, spending several of his Cadet years with 1312 (Southend) Squadron.”

Sqd Ldr Paul Evans, from RAF Lossiemouth, survived but was badly injured.

The crash happened over the Moray Firth, off the coast of Sutherland, near Helmsdale.