Telford woman calls for big motorbike send-off at her father's funeral

Pete Egan died after he suffered a heart attack at work earlier this month.

A keen biker, his daughter is hoping to give him a special send-off by getting as many motorbikes as possible to follow the funeral procession from his home.

Lucy Egan, 19, has made a heartfelt appeal on Facebook for people to join the procession ahead of her dad's funeral on Saturday.

She is making a final plea for as many people as possible to join in.

Mr Egan had been an employee at Aga on Station Road in Ketley for 38 years.

On May 3, he suffered a heart-attack at work and was airlifted to Royal Stoke Hospital by the Midlands Air Ambulance but sadly died on May 10.

Lucy, who lives with her mother Ness, 46, on Coronation Drive in Donnington, said: "He learned to ride a motorbike when he was 17, before he could ride a car.

"He was 57, so he had been riding it for years. He got out on his bike whenever he could, between work and fishing.

"He's done lots of charity rides, like the Bike4Life for the Midlands Air Ambulance and I know this is something he would have been a part of.

"In the past, he's done things like this for other people, someone wanted lots of motorbikes for a prom and he took part.

"He was a real family man, a bit of a joker, really quick witted. And he was a helper, but people wouldn't know it was him, he was a secret helper but he would do anything for anybody.

"We want to make it a celebration of his life, rather than a funeral."

Lucy said she has had a lot of response on social media, though has had no official confirmation of numbers, but wants to spread the message as far as possible.

She added: "It was what he loved and he definitely would have wanted it.

"He's also going to have a Hyabusa hearse, which is the type of bike he had. He had always wanted one and got one for his 50th birthday. I'd never seen him so excited in my life.

Lucy and her family, which also includes an older step-sister, have also received a number of donations for the Midlands Air Ambulance in honour of their dad and the treatment he received.

But also because he was a big supporter of the charity.

She added: "I think it was the Sunday that he had taken part in the Bike4Life ride-out which raises money for the Midlands Air Ambulance.

"Then the Wednesday after he was taken to hospital by air ambulance.

"He always used to say that it was important to donate to them because they are run only by donations and you never know whether you might need them."

Lucy is urging people to join the procession on Saturday which will start at 10.30am at the family's home in Coronation Drive in Donnington, before heading to Telford Crematorium in Red Hill for 11am.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation should make it straight to the Midlands Air Ambulance, or use donation boxes that will be at the crematorium and outside the family's home ahead of the procession.