Danny Hayward, a young man who enjoyed seeing people smile.
THE mother of a motorcyclist who died in a crash in Wootton said he was the clown of the family who would have done anything to make people laugh.
Danny Hayward, 20, of Cross Lane, Newport, suffered fatal injuries after his motorcycle and a Toyota Rav 4 collided at the junction of Park Road and Lushington Hill on July 31.
Danny, a former Ryde High School pupil who had just started work at Gurit, died at the scene and the driver of the Rav 4, Leon Richards, 46, of Wootton Bridge, died in hospital, six hours later.
Danny’s mother, Donna Rolle, 43, described her son, who would have been 21 on August 31, as the clown of the family.
She said: "He loved to make people laugh, no matter how silly he had to be to do it.
"He had such a cheeky grin and he would have done anything for anyone."
A convoy of about 40 motorcycles and dozens of cars rode out across the Island last Friday, in memory of Danny and to raise awareness of motorcyclists generally.
One of his closest friends, Ricky Goodrem, 23, of Ryde, organised the cruise and led the motorcyclists, while Danny’s brother, Jamie, 23, led the cars. The route, which started and finished in Ryde, took in many of Danny's favourite places in the West Wight, Sandown and Culver Down.
Afterwards, lanterns were let off into the sky on Ryde seafront.
Many of those who joined the cruise bought special stickers, made in memory of Danny, featuring his initials and a R6 logo, to acknowledge his Yamaha R6 motorcycle.
More than £500 was raised, which will go towards a memorial bench on Culver Cliff.
Donna, who watched the cruise from the scene of the crash, said: "It was totally overwhelming.
"Everyone was so fantastic, they showed so much love and respect for Danny.
"We never imagined there would be so many people — he would have loved it."
The motorcycle cruise. Picture by Robin Crossley.
Reporter: mattw@iwcpmail.co.uk