The funeral of Lee 'Wooty' Vine took place in a packed St. Michael's church this morning.

Bikers had come from all over the country to pay tribute, forming a funeral cortège of over 40 bikes that processed down the Homend from Lee's shop in the Homend Trading Estate to the churchyard, via Church St.

Standing room only inside the church

Bikers leaving the church for a procession via Falcon Lane to Hereford crematorium, where they were joined by over 40 more bikes.

Lee, who lived and breathed motorcycles, was born in Malvern on 19th August 1962. At the age of 16, he became a trainee mechanic at Ansells Motorcycles in Newent. Only 3 years later, he took the bold step of setting up his own business, Lee Motorcycles, in Ledbury's station yard. His younger brother, Jason, joined him in 1986 and the business has flourished from Day One. Soon it needed larger premises and, in 1988, moved a short distance into its present location in the Homend Trading Estate (as it had since been renamed). We are pleased to report that Jason intends to keep the business running, as we are certain Lee would have wanted. We all wish him continued success.

The only other motorcycle shop in Ledbury at the time, H C Cecil - a long-standing business, closed in the early 2000's, Ansells and John Jenkyns (Malvern) having long since gone. This left Lee Motorcycles as the only business for some considerable distance that would service and MoT all kinds of motorcycles, including 'Old Brits' from the 60's and earlier. I remember taking my Norton for an MoT some years ago, when I was a bit concerned that the back brake wasn't as effective as I would have liked. The result given by Lee's rolling road tester said it was well above the minimum efficiency required, and he said he'd seen a lot worse!!!

His own favourite bike was a 1977 Triumph Trident, which was on display at the gathering this afternoon at Ledbury Rugby Club:-

On 30th December 2012, a bonfire got out of control in Lee's garden in Falcon Lane, engulfing him in a fireball that caused 50% burns from which he never recovered. He was taken by air ambulance to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he died on 11th January 2013.

Donations in memory of Lee, which may be left with Ledbury Funeral Services, 132 Homend, will be forwarded to the Midland Air Ambulance and the Critical Care Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.