A procession of around 50 motorcycles accompanied a popular biker on his final journey today following his death in a crash on the A47.

Eastern Daily Press: A motorcycle hearse carrying David Holmes, who died in a motorcycle crash on the A47, arrives at his funeral at St Faiths Crematorium with a cavalcade of bikers.PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAYA motorcycle hearse carrying David Holmes, who died in a motorcycle crash on the A47, arrives at his funeral at St Faiths Crematorium with a cavalcade of bikers.PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY (Image: Archant Norfolk)

David Holmes, who lived in Sprowston, Norwich, was killed in a collision at Honingham last month as he made his way home from a bike meeting in King's Lynn.

Eastern Daily Press: David Holmes, who died in a crash on the A47.David Holmes, who died in a crash on the A47. (Image: Archant)

Family and friends paid an emotional farewell to the 38-year-old, who was an experienced biker.

Mr Holmes' coffin was taken from Aylsham to St Faiths Crematorium in Horsham St Faiths in a motorcycle sidecar hearse and was followed by a long line of friends riding their bikes to pay tribute to the Anglian Water worker.

The crematorium was full to capacity as dozens of former colleagues and biker friends paid their respects to the biker, who had 22 years of riding experience.

His mother, Bren, told mourners that her son had a huge passion for motorcycles and restoring them.

'The older, tattier and more unloved a motorcycle, the better, and he had several in various stages of rebuild. He didn't care if it cost more to rebuild it than it was ultimately worth; that wasn't what David was about.'

'His loss leaves a huge gap in our hearts and lives that can never be filled. We miss his smile, his hugs and his sheer zest for life. We love you David,' she said.

Mr Holmes was riding his silver Yamaha towards Norwich when he was involved in a crash with a Renault car, which was travelling in the opposite direction, at about 7.40pm on Saturday, June 8 on the A47 at Honingham.

Mrs Holmes said her son, a former North Walsham High School and Paston Sixth Form pupil, was known as the 'king of tea and cake' by his colleagues at Anglian Water where he worked as an electrical technician at the Heigham water treatment works.

His wake at the St Faiths Centre included a display of his photographs featuring photos taken in Antarctica where Mr Holmes spent nearly 15 months at the Halley VI Research Station for the British Antarctic Survey.