Final ride on 'dream' machine for biker's send off

A biker was given "one last ride" when he was taken to his own funeral on his dream motorbike.

John Dingwall, from South Shields, spent 18 years riding after being introduced to the hobby by his wife, Louise.

Following his death, his coffin was taken to the funeral by a Harley Davidson Road King - a bike he never had the chance to ride himself.

"John's last ride was exactly what he would have wanted - he lived his life in the saddle and now he's taken one last ride on his dream bike," Mrs Dingwall said.

Mr Dingwall's coffin was transported in a specially fitted hearse sidecar attached to the Harley Davidson.

"We were all so impressed by the motorbike hearse which allowed John to be surrounded by his family, friends and fellow riders," Mrs Dingwall added.

"It was such a fitting tribute."

The 68-year-old was a carpenter and was the "handyman of the family", according to his wife and their daughter, Chloe.

But when he was introduced to his first motorbike, a 125cc Jinlun, he decided he wanted to build them.

He learnt to weld at South Shields College and went on to build more than 100 motorbikes, including Suzukis, Yamahas, a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Drifter, and his favourite - a black 750 Honda Shadow.

He even modified a Kawasaki W800 to become a Batman trike, his family said.

Mr Dingwall also built a number to teardrop trailers to attach to bikes and donated money from his work to air ambulance and local children's charities.

Led by his brother, Robert, more than 50 bikers rode in his honour at the funeral on 26 October.

When the coffin was lifted from the hearse, they revved their bikes in unison until Mr Dingwall entered the crematorium.

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