A GRIEVING family unveiled a memorial picture of Flt Lt Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill who "grabbed life with both hands and kicked it around".

Sue and Terry Poole, from Herne, and son Jason, revealed the photograph in front of her friends and RAF colleagues in the main passenger terminal building at Kent International Airport on Sunday.

Flt Lt Mulvihill, who attended Barton Court Grammar School in Canterbury, was the first British servicewoman killed in active service since the Second World War when the Lynx helicopter she was in was shot down in Basra, Iraq, in May.

A visibly upset Jason, 34, flanked by his father, said the family was "very proud of the tribute" before pulling the chord to reveal the large picture of his sister in a relaxed RAF pose.

After the ceremony Jason, who lives in Dover, said: "It has been so hard to put into words what Sarah’s loss means to us. But, the family has been so strong and together these past months.

Mother Sue said: "This is an unbelieveable tribute to Sarah and the picture is bigger and more beautiful than I thought it would be."

Father Terry added: "Sarah was a fine advert for the town and for the RAF. She achieved more in her lifetime than most people do in two."

* SEE THIS THURSDAY'S KENTISH GAZETTE OR HERNE BAY GAZETTE FOR THE FULL STORY.