TRIBUTES have poured in for a young Royal Navy officer who has died in a car crash.

Lieutenant Christopher Hemming, a former Cirencester College student from Nailsworth, who was stationed on HMS Collingwood near Portsmouth, died in a crash in Devon while heading home on leave in the early hours of May 12.

The 28-year-old died at the scene after his car hit a parked lorry on the A38 near Newton Abbot.

It is believed he was driving home from Plymouth after visiting friends he met while serving on the HMS Ocean.

A Cirencester College spokeswoman said: “Christopher was a student at Cirencester College between 2005 and 2007 taking A-levels in Business and Economics.

“We were deeply saddened to hear about the loss of Christopher especially in such tragic circumstances. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Christopher’s family.”

The former Sir William Romney School pupil had served in the navy since 2010.

He was a submarine sonar operator before being selected for promotion and Commissioned Officer training at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth. A role as a warfare officer followed on various warships.

Chris was personally commended for his support to a task group on HMS Ocean during a deployment to the Middle East. A specialist in information warfare, he had recently joined the Maritime Information Exploitation Group.

His commanding officer, Commander Roger Noyce, said: “Chris’ colleagues were devastated with the desperately sad news of his death. His professionalism, quick wit and infectious enthusiasm meant that he easily hit it off with the rest of his team.

“He brought with him an enviable reputation as a highly-skilled Warfare Officer and such was his keenness to build experience and contribute to Royal Naval operations, he had already volunteered to deploy back to the Middle East at short notice. Chris will not only be missed by his friends and colleagues here but also by the Warfare Branch as a whole, who has lost a rising star.”

Nailsworth mayor Jonathan Duckworth also paid tribute to Chris, who was popular there.

“I knew Chris from his time managing the Village Inn, where he was a welcoming, popular and friendly figure,” he said.

“I last spoke to him at the Remembrance Day parade in Nailsworth, fulfilling his duty as a member of the forces whilst at the same time taking an interest in others, as he always did.

“It is very sad news and my thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Hundreds of comments have been posted in a Facebook group called We Remember Submariners.

One colleague, Anthony Madden, wrote: “He was a top bloke and submariner who I served with on HMS Triumph.”

Fellow submariner John Gabb posted: “A brilliant, gentle young man and a loss to the service.”