A fitting send-off for Percy

Lancing man Percy Bashford died on August 29, aged 86. A special motorcycle hearse carried his coffin to St Mary's Church, Sompting, for the service on Friday.

Mr Bashford had been riding motorbikes since 1942, when he got a Norton 500, but he soon fell in love with Triumphs.

His daughter Caroline Carman, of The Quadrant, Goring, said the funeral had been a fitting tribute. "It went very well. It was brilliant. He was always into motorbikes. He was a member of the Triumph Owners' Club."

Mr Bashford was also a member of the Hairy Sussex motorcycle group, regularly clocking up more than 400 miles a week on his bike.

He had been in the Royal Navy before Caroline was born, and later worked on petrol pump installations at garages.

Mr Bashford also worked as a courier for the Worthing Guardian, which allowed him to ride his beloved motorbikes as part of his job.

The Rev Paul Sinclair runs Motorcycle Funerals '“ the only firm in the country which offers such a service '“ and rode the motorcycle hearse on Friday.

Mr Sinclair said: "I am a church minister and I started this service because it bothered me to send motorcyclists off in cars. I have now done about 600 funerals. I came down from Derbyshire. It was the first time I had been here."

He added that all motorcycle funerals were different, and it was a fitting send-off for anyone who was passionate about motorbikes.

"People associate this kind of thing with Hell's Angels, but it is for all motorcycle enthusiasts '“ Mr Bashford liked Triumphs."

Mr Bashford is survived by his daughter, and by grandchildren Sally, Simon, Becky, Heidi, Andrew and Ashley.

Donations in his memory can be made to Cats Protection, via William Weller and Son funeral directors, in West Street, Sompting.

Visit www.motorcyclefunerals.com for more information on Motorcycle Funerals.