MARK Hyde was determined that his wicked sense of humour would live on after he died.

The former Navy engineer, who served in both the Gulf War and the Bosnia crisis, lost his battle against a rare form of cancer on Sunday.

But rather than choose a traditional hymn to be played at his funeral service, he wanted something different.

He hoped to bring smiles to the faces of mourners at Southamp-ton Crematorium with his choice of 1970s song Disco Inferno.

His mother-in-law Lita Wilson said: "He was strong and brave, and never lost his sense of humour.

"The choice of music at the service was to make everyone laugh."

My Hyde, who went to school at St Denys Primary and Hampton Park Secondary in Southamp-ton, joined the Navy to see the world.

He was in the front line during the Gulf War, and was part of a support group in the Adriatic during the Bosnia conflict.

His death, at the age of 30, came just days before his only son Sam's third birthday.

Mr Hyde had quit the Navy in 1997 to be with wife Kate, 29, and to watch his son grow up at their home in Shirley, Southampton.

Mrs Wilson said: "It has been quite a traumatic time as we have been surrounded by birthday cards and condolence cards."

Doctors told Mr Hyde last month that he had just weeks to live from a sarcoma tumour. But he managed to find the strength to record an emotional video which will be given to his son when he gets older.

After leaving the Navy, Mr Hyde worked as a refrigeration engineer at Southampton firm Grenco Matal.

Mrs Wilson said: "We have now realised, looking back, that it was always pretty bleak but we always tried to hope for the best."