Home town funeral for former MEP

A thanksgiving service is to be held for a former Norfolk Euro MP, farmer and businessman who died in a plane crash in southern Africa last month. Paul Howell, 57, was killed along with his friend, pilot Johan Wessels, and four others when the Piper Seneca aircraft they were flying in crashed on the coast of Mozambique on September 20.

Hundreds of people from political and social circles in Norfolk and further afield are expected to go to a thanksgiving service for former Euro MP Paul Howell who died in a plane crash in southern Africa last month.

Mr Howell, 57, was killed along with his friend, pilot Johan Wessels, and four others when the Piper Seneca aircraft crashed on the coast of Mozambique on September 20.

The farmer, businessman, politician, socialite and adventurer, from Wendling, near Dereham, was travelling to the country on business.

He had been Norfolk's Euro-MP for 15 years, after being elected in 1979.

A service will be held at St Nicholas' Church in Dereham, where a service for his father, former MP Ralph Howell, was held in February this year. About 700 to 800 people are expected.

It will be on Friday at 11am, with family flowers only and donations, if desired, to African charities.

Mr Howell's body was due to be flown back to the UK last night. An investigation is still being carried out by authorities from Mozambique and South Africa into the cause of the crash.

Mr Howell left behind his wife, Ayesha, and three sons, William, 19, Oliver, 17, and baby Zack.