Tears and tributes at Perpignan memorial

Tears and tributes linked relatives grieving for a victim of the Perpignan crash on opposite sides of the world.

Christchurch aircraft engineer Noel Marsh was among seven to die in the crash off Canet-en-Roussillon last November.

Noel's sons, Leon, 7, and Ryan, 3, spent yesterday in Christchurch while his widow Tracey attended ceremonies near the crash site.

With her was the couple's nine-month-old Katie, the daughter Noel never saw.

They were joined by his sister Donna, one of his close friends, and Tracey's mother Sue Frey.

Together they laid a wreath and left messages from Leon and Ryan at a plaque at Canet beach.

The boys spent the day with their grandparents, Bill and Joyce Marsh, first planting one of their father's favourite trees, a Japanese maple, in the garden of the family home. They then laid flowers at a plaque honouring their father before attending an Air New Zealand service to remember those who died at Mt Erebus and Perpignan.

Before leaving for Perpignan their mother had planned a full day's schedule for her sons. After the service, they were treated to lunch at McDonald's followed by a game of minigolf.

Bill Marsh said it was "a very sad day for us".

Tracey had been coping well, with support from friends and family, and counselling: "She is a strong woman ... she is doing great."

Shelley Horrell, widow of pilot Brian Horrell, another Perpignan victim, attended the memorial service in Auckland. She said it was "moving, just lovely".

Her family laid a wreath and flowers at his grave at Ardmore cemetery yesterday.

Shelley said her children Olivia and Logan were coping well but missed their dad.