THE motorcycle rider who died in a crash in London Road, Baldock on Monday has been named as David Gladstone, aged 41. Born in Hitchin, he grew up in Letchworth GC where he stayed until he married Tracey. They lived together in Biggleswade before moving t

THE motorcycle rider who died in a crash in London Road, Baldock on Monday has been named as David Gladstone, aged 41.

Born in Hitchin, he grew up in Letchworth GC where he stayed until he married Tracey.

They lived together in Biggleswade before moving to Edworth and then to their home in Dunton with their children David and Hannah.

Mr Gladstone was educated at Westbury Junior School and then The Highfield School where he was an outgoing and sporty pupil.

After leaving school, he served an apprenticeship at Ironcrafts blacksmiths in Stotfold and then worked as a maintenance engineer for concrete products company Marshalls in Sandy. Outside of his day job, Mr Gladstone repaired horse boxes.

After his son was born in 1994, Mr Gladstone decided to become self employed and set up his own business as an equestrian vehicle engineer.

He adored his family and really enjoyed cooking dinner for them. He enjoyed watching son David playing football and cricket and they were both Spurs season ticket holders. He also loved watching daughter Hannah ballet dancing and playing in netball matches.

Mr Gladstone had a long standing passion for motorbikes but hadn't ridden for a while before taking it up again around three years ago. The family had attended meets at Brands Hatch in their caravan to watch the racing together.

A member of the Stevenage and District Bike Club, Mr Gladstone also enjoyed chatting on bike forums on the internet.

On the day of the accident, the family had just returned from a holiday in Holt, Norfolk.

Mrs Gladstone describes her husband as having a heart of gold, adding: "He will be missed so much, his family all loved him deeply."

David jnr, aged 14, added: "I've always thought of my Dad as the fittest, strongest and most indestructible person ever. After he flipped our car and walked out with no broken bones, I just thought he was invincible.

"He really got back into bikes about three years ago and we all know how much he loved it. He was the one who got me into superbikes and now I have posters and models all over my room.

"We all loved him deeply and my only ambition in life was to make him proud of me."

Hannah, aged 10, said: "Motorbiking was Dad's favourite hobby. On sunny days he would go out on one of his bikes and on rainy or windy days he would be annoyed that he couldn't go out on whichever bike he felt like riding. There was the Buell before he sold it, the Triumph or the Ducati which was the one he had the accident on.

"I was heartbroken like all the other family and friends. The day before he died, we were in Norfolk on holiday.

"We had gone on a bike ride to Sheringham in the sun and it was really nice. At least we went on one last family outing before he died.

"I loved my Daddy very much and my future life won't the same without him in it."

Mr Gladstone's funeral will be held on Thursday, June 4. The cars will be leaving the family home at 2.20pm to go to Dunton Church. Friends are welcome. Flowers can be sent to Woodmans Funeral Directors in Biggleswade.