SHE proudly wore his watch for the London Marathon and now Pauline Griffiths-Jeans plans to complete a triathlon in memory of her airman nephew Brian Connell.

Swindon-born Brian was killed in an unexplained car accident while patrolling the Iraq-Kuwait border in 1998. He was just 22 years old.

The wounds left by his sudden death are still yet to heal but when Pauline, 45, won a ballot place at the London Marathon, there was only one charity she wanted to run for.

“I chose Help For Heroes as it is something Brian would have really approved of,” said Pauline from Lansdown Road, Old Town. “Especially as many of his friends will be in Afghanistan now facing unspeakable dangers.

“Brian was an exceptional young man and never gave his mum the sleepless nights most teenagers and young men do. He was a gentle soul, well liked and much loved and his death is something our family will never recover from.

“It wasn’t until I got the ballot place for the marathon I felt I could broach the subject of running in his memory with Kath – my sister – but it just felt right.”

Pauline, who only started running when she hit 40, completed the 26.2 mile route in four hours and 41 minutes, raising £1,600 for Help For Heroes.

She also received not one but two medals for her part in the London Marathon on April 25.

“I got one from Help For Heroes for supporting them,” she said. “We all met after the race and my heart honestly swelled when I saw some of the young servicemen there. I could not help but think of Brian and how he’d be making his mum even more proud if he was here today.

“I wore his watch throughout the race – I had to fasten it over a sweatband so it would fit – but it meant a lot. I will give my medal to his mum because I won it for Brian, it should be his.

Pauline is now training for her first triathlon this year, swimming 500 metres, cycling 20 miles and finishing with a five mile run on June 27.

She has already been sponsored by colleagues at Arval in Windmill Hill but is looking for as much help as possible in raising funds in Brian’s memory.

To support Pauline, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/4Brian.