“MY abiding memory of Lisa was her lovely smile.”

The words of university tutor Cathy Kirby, as she joined tributes to heroic soldier Lisa Head.

The 29-year-old bomb disposal expert from Almondbury died this week – the victim of an Afghan bomber.

She was badly wounded while trying to defuse a second home-made bomb, while on patrol with the Paras in the deadly Helmand province, and died hours later in hospital.

Capt Head, whose family live in Daw Royds, was remembered with warm affection by Dr Kirby, who was her tutor during a three-year course at the university.

Capt Head studied human biology and graduated with a 2:1 honours degree in 2003 before moving on to Sandhurst Military Academy to take up a commission.

“She had a lovely, strong personality and that shone through in everything she did on the course and in her work,” said Dr Kirby.

“She was in one of our first cohorts of human biology students and it was only a small group of about 20 when they arrived in 2000.

“My most vivid memory is her lovely smile. She had such a warm outgoing nature and was so down to earth and friendly.

“And a lovely, friendly personality. Very upbeat.

“I remember very well the smile on her face that you’ve probably seen on all the photos. She had a lovely smile.

“She was the ideal student for us, always prepared to ask the questions in class and always willing to have a go in her work.

“I got to know her very well during her final year, as I was her project tutor, and I knew then she would make a success of whatever she tackled. She had talked about her dreams of an officer career in the Army and she had all the credentials to do well.

“I heard the terrible news about her death in an email. I was completely devastated. She was a lovely girl and it is a terrible waste.