One of the most moving photos I've seen for a long time was this image of bricklayer Barry Delaney, who wore a lime green dress and pink socks to his friend's funeral. His friend, Pte Kevin Elliott, was killed while on foot patrol in Helmand province in Afghanistan at the end of last month.
The pair had made a pact years ago that if one of them died, the other would wear a lurid dress to the funeral. Barry wore a sombre suit for the service but changed into the dress in the cemetery car park. As he arrived at the graveside, other mourners cheered and applauded.
A lot of people have criticised Barry, complaining that dragging up for the funeral was "disrespectful". That's rubbish. By honouring his long-held promise, Barry showed honour, integrity and respect for his mate. He also showed us a side to Kevin that we would not otherwise have thought about. Thanks to Barry's tribute, Kevin is not simply another serviceman killed in the line of duty whose photo we see in the paper. He was a real bloke who had a sense of fun and was blessed with a loyal, honourable friend.
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