Tributes have been paid to a young soldier who turned his life around with help from the Regiment, only to die suddenly at age 27.

L/Cpl. Wendell Earl Lovell Jr., who had spent time in prison in his youth, was the first recruit to the student soldier initiative, which paid for him to return to his studies at Bermuda College. This enabled him to complete the tough Corporals Cadre in June which grooms the Regiment?s future senior non-commissioned officers and possibly commissioned officers.

However, his success story was cut tragically short on November 5 when he died in hospital having been taken ill during a game of pool with some friends. ?He?s a great example to young Bermudian men that they can turn around their lives. If they are having challenges as many young men do, there?s always hope.

?He?s a classic example of that. It?s unfortunate that he didn?t live to see the rest of the fairytale ending,? said his cousin, Maj. Wayne Smith yesterday. Maj. Smith declined to give details about the circumstances of L/Cpl. Lovell?s death, saying the cause had yet to be determined by the coroner.

A funeral with military honours including a gun salute is planned for today, with his coffin carried by those with whom he served in the Regiment.

?He was a great guy. He was a talented young man and a very humble guy. He was softly-spoken, very caring and easy-going.

?The Regiment, like his family, is shocked by the sudden death of this young man in the prime of life,? added Maj. Smith.

As The Mid Ocean News reported in February this year, the student soldier initiative enabled L/Cpl. Lovell to return to studies that he had cut short in his younger days at the same time as progressing in the Regiment.

The soldier, from South Shore Road, Smiths, told that newspaper how he was sentenced to three years behind bars in 1998 for stealing and breaking and entering offences.

He later ?forced? himself to complete a gloomy first tour of duty in the Regiment before spending time in a number of different jobs.

Despite being talented at mathematics and physics and good with his hands, he could not get stuck into any particular career, he said.

But a year ago he happened upon Maj. Smith, who encouraged him to come back to the army.

He decided to take the plunge after hearing about the student soldier initiative which allowed him to have his education at Bermuda College paid for by the Regiment.

L/Cpl. Lovell told how, as a born-again Christian he had been praying for a way to finance a return to his studies.

?A lot of people, including elders in my church, discouraged me and said that I was finished, no good. However, the Lord still had his hand on me, kept me up, told me to wait on him and he would make a way out of no way.

?This is just the beginning; even greater things than this will he do. God has told me this,? he told the Mid Ocean News.

He took Maths, English and Strategies for Adult Success classes, with a view to completing an associate?s degree and later a bachelor?s degree.

In the process, he found a love for the Regiment that led to him working as a volunteer at Recruit Camp 2006.

He went on to complete the intensive six-month Corporals Cadre course which is designed to fast-track the best and brightest recruits to eventually become senior commanders in the Regiment.

?I want to use this opportunity to encourage and motivate young people to strive for excellence and to make the most of every opportunity presented to them,? he said earlier this year.

Paying tribute to his cousin and fellow soldier in the aftermath of his untimely death, Maj. Smith said: He?d given his life to the Lord. He was turning his life around. God works in mysterious ways.?

A funeral service for L/Cpl. Lovell will be held at First United Marsden Methodist Church, South Shore Road, Smiths, today at 4.p.m.

He leaves parents Lynndell Lovell and Wendell Lovell Sr., brother Tyrone and grandmother Kathleen Lovell.