Bikers roar in to pay final respects to colleague 'Inch'

The bikers escorted the funeral cortege carrying the body of 33-year-old Michael Horner to the tiny Catholic church of St Thomas's, in Shildon, County Durham.

Mr Horner, affectionately known as Inch, died when his motorbike collided with a four-wheel drive vehicle close to Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, when the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles were in residence.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Royal Family prayed for him at a church service the day after the tragedy, which happened on Saturday, August 11.

His 62-year-old mother Rita, whom he lived with in Co-operative Street, Shildon, has been inundated with cards and letters from as far afield as Macedonia, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Inch, who leaves a nine-year-old son, Andrew, was a well-respected member of the Newcastle branch of the National Chopper Club. As a mark of respect, fellow bikers from clubs throughout Europe proudly wore their group's jackets.

The journey started at Howden-le-Wear where the body of Mr Horner was escorted to the church.

Many were left standing outside St Thomas's, spilling on to the street. Those who managed to get a seat in the church heard tributes to a man who was small in stature but large in personality.

Close friend Spike said: "He travelled far and wide supporting his brothers at every opportunity. He was also a loving father to son, Andrew, and a caring son to his mother, Rita.

"Inch has touched all of us, and he will be greatly missed.''

After the service Mark Foster who runs a general dealers in Byerley Road, opposite the church, said: "I thought it was a good turn out for the lad. It was good see all those bikes come from all over.''

Brenda Robinson, who had known Inch since he was 17 years old, said it had been a fabulous turn out for him.

She said: "I was really upset about it when I heard. But it was a good send off. He would have been proud.'