A massive $30,000 donation was yesterday made towards an educational fund for the daughter of a Bermuda Regiment officer killed on duty in England.

The Broad Arrow Freemasons lodge handed over the cash to little Katherine Wheddon, aged five, whose father Major Chris Wheddon died in a car crash in 2012 while en route to a training exercise.

Maj Wheddon’s sister Kim Rose said: “It’s amazing — we have been overwhelmed and surprised by the outpouring from the lodge. We never expected anything like this.

“Thirty thousand dollars will go a long way with Katherine’s education, which is the key thing.”

Broad Arrow Worshipful Master Major Ben Beasley, who served with Major Wheddon, said: “Chris was definitely well-liked — all the members across Bermuda contributed, as did his Regiment colleagues and others.

“The amount raised was a result of a lot of different people supporting this.”

Viv Redford, Past Master of Broad Arrow and Treasurer, where Major Wheddon was a member, added: “Chris was very well-respected and was moving forward in the lodge and the Regiment.

“After Chris’s tragic passing, the brethren of the lodge felt they wanted to do something.”

He added the cash was raised through individual contributions, a $5,000 donation from Broad Arrow funds and a quiz night at Docksider Bar, which pulled in nearly $23,000.

Mr Redford said: “There was huge public support for that event and all the funds have been donated to a trust established for Katherine.

“We’ve asked that the funds be directed towards her education — other than that, we have no involvement. It will be in the hands of the trustees.”

And Mr Redford said: “The lodge continues to fundraise — we have another event planned for next year. Every lodge in Bermuda has a charity account and they distribute it as they see fit and it’s highly likely this charity will receive further donations, along with other charities.”

The quiz night — organised with the support of Docksider’s chief Reid Young, attracted teams from around the Island, including a Government House team led by Governor George Fergusson.

Ms Rose added: “The quiz was a really good event and to see so many people who thought so fondly of Chris — it would have been a great event, even if it hadn’t raised any money.”

Maj Wheddon, who was 43, was being prepared to take over as Commanding Officer of the Bermuda Regiment when the Mitsubishi Warrior 4x4 he was a passenger in crashed in Oxfordshire in September, 2012.

Maj Wheddon was being driven by British Army soldier Netani Kepa to join the Bermuda Regiment’s sister unit the Royal Anglians for further command training after completing a stint as part of the UK combined forces security team at the London Olympics when the 4x4 left the road and crashed into a tree.

Kepa later admitted causing death by dangerous driving and was sentenced to a year’s community service, banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £500.

Maj Wheddon — who was buried with full military honours after hundreds attended his funeral at the Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton — joined the Regiment in 1997.

He moved to the UK in 1990 and signed up with the Glasgow and Salford University Officers’ Training Corps before returning to Bermuda, where he joined the Bermuda Police Service, leaving with the rank of Sergeant in 2004 to take up the full-time Regiment post of Adjutant, which he held until 2008.

Maj Wheddon, whose brother Julian is a Major in the Regiment, later served as aide-de-camp to then-Governor Richard Gozney between 2008 and 2011.