Biker Chris gets a last blast

Members of the 1066 Chapter of the Harley Davidson Owners' Club turned out in force for the funeral on Tuesday morning of the Wells shoe-shop partner who died at the age of 48 following a stroke.

Bikers from as far afield as the New Forest turned out on machines lovingly polished for the occasion to pay their last respects to popular Chris and to support his widow, Helen, daughter Lisa and son Luke, a Buddhist monk who under his ordained name Kassapo gave the tribute at Eastbourne crematorium.

Watching the "Hogs" (Harley Davidsons) rumble into formation, Chris' brother, Nick, a fellow biker said: "It's a tremendous response. You can tell the way he was respected by the size of the turn-out.

"Chris would have appreciated it."

Fellow Sackville Road traders lined the street in respect as Bexhill Funeral Service conducted the first moments of one of the town's more unusual funeral processions.

Motorcycling vicar the Rev Paul Sinclar had ridden from Coalville Leicestershire to carry Chris' coffin in his specially adapted motorcycle combination.

Fellow bikers had helped the Rev Sinclair clean and polish the rig for the occasion.

As police held up traffic while the street-long cortege formed up, the Rev Sinclair explained: "It's a Suzuki Hayabusa - the world's fastest production-line bike.

"I've been timed at 14.5 seconds over the standing quarter mile and it will do 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds.

"We like to give bikers a 'last blast.'"