The funeral sidecar of prominent businessman Peter Richard Taylor, 87, reached St Mary's Church on Tuesday with a cavalcade of twenty motorcyclists and a police escort.

More than 100 people gathered at the church at midday to remember the life of one of the founding members of the West Wiltshire Vintage Motorcycle Club, who had raised thousands for charities such as Cancer Research and British Heart Foundation in the 80s.

Speaking after the funeral, his son 64-year-old son Stephen said: "It was a good send off for the old chap and I was really pleased with the turn out and the cavalcade. It was only supposed to be four or five riders but in the end there were about twenty of them on their bikes.

"The police saw the side car outfit on the way to Calne from Devizes and they turned round and gave him a police escort - it was probably the only time my Dad was pleased to see them as he always got done for speeding!"

Mr Taylor, who was born in Chippenham in June 1929, lived in The Pippin for many years where he helped out with his father's fruit and fish business FC Taylor and Sons on Church Street.

His love of bikes came from a young age, where he took part in a number of races including the famous Arbuthnot Trials, where he won quite a few trophies and in the late 1970s, he and his four sons, Stephen, Peter, John and Andrew, set up a motorcycle shop in Chippenham called PR Taylor and Sons.

He leaves behind two sons, 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren and was the last of his generation despite having three brothers and one sister.