DOZENS of bikers paid their respects to a popular grandfather with a “heart of gold” who raised thousands of pounds for charity.

The ride-out for John - known as Sean - Overend was attended by bikers from across Hampshire as they revved their engines round the city of Southampton in memory of their friend.

Sean was born in Lanarkshire but moved to Southampton at the age of 25.

Known to hundreds of Southampton bikers he was a lifelong member of Southampton Bike Night and Pirates MCC and a keen mechanic who spent his spare time fixing up bikes and cars and spending time with family.

Previously a worker at the Fawley refinery Sean was also employed at Ford’s factory in Eastleigh for 16 years before he was made redundant in the early 1990s.

Shortly afterwards a serious accident left him with a pin in his wrist.

Daughter Samantha said: “It didn’t stop him from doing anything - he took an engine out of bike and made a Yamaha XS 1100 with it.

“He used to take me out on it - to the Bold Forester and the Cricketers in Eastleigh. He was always mucking about with engines - he was a real grease monkey.”

Described as “family orientated” and the “family chauffeur,” who “didn’t have a bad word to say about anybody,” Sean raised thousands of pounds for Southampton hospital’s children’s ward and the children's cancer charity Daisy Chain through Pirates MCC.

Having lived in Coxford for most of his life with wife Linda, 60, Sean died of ischemic heart disease on January 24 aged 64.

Samantha paid tribute to the five paramedics who attended him, who she said were “absolutely fantastic.”

The ride-out left Samantha’s house in Sholing at 12pm and went to Mayflower Park before making its way to St Mary’s Extra cemetery for a non-religious service conducted by Dr Richard Palmer before Sean was buried.

Sean is survived by widow Linda, daughters Samantha, 24, - a carer for her eldest son - and Caroline and sons Thomas and Alan plus seven grandchildren. After his daughter Seana died Sean was given residency order for her daughter Chantelle, who he and Linda brought up.

His coffin was taken to St Mary's Extra chapel in a Triumph sidecar - his favourite motorbike - and covered with a union jack and a saltire wreath.