The heartbroken wife of a biker who died after a crash says he was a true gentleman adored by his family.

Russell Brown, known to friends and family as Russ, was involved in a collision with a green Range Rover on the A257 near Canterbury just after 1pm on July 19.

The 58-year-old, who was riding his beloved motorbike at the time, was airlifted to a London hospital with serious injuries but died seven days later, surrounded by loved ones.

Speaking at their home in Sturry, Canterbury, his wife Kerry told KentOnline: “We lived for one another. He looked after me and he built this world where nothing could hurt us.

“We were the male and female versions of each other.

“He would always say to me, ‘Look at my peepers and tell me you love me’.”

Kerry says it was “absolute devotion at first sight” when they first met 24 years ago.

Russ was a window fitter at the time and working at a house that Kerry was cleaning.

Their first date was at Reculver Beach, near Herne Bay, and after two weeks they moved in together in Whitstable. Russ proposed after one month and they got married 10 years later in 2010.

Kerry, 53, said: “He was a true gentleman too – you didn’t open the car door, Russ did.

“He’d always walk on the outside of the footpath to protect you from the road. He was so kind and not ready to be taken.”

Kerry says she and her husband had tried to have children for many years, but two, Riley and Alfie, died as infants.

“Our experience of losing children gave us a lot of empathy for others,” she said.

“He would have been an amazing dad. He was such a loving and passionate man. He was always so proud of me and told everyone it, and I am so proud of him.

“All of his family adore him. Everyone is devastated.”

Russ’ sister-in-law Natalie Newbury says Kerry and Russ had “an amazing love story”.

“She was his world and it was like there was this magic between them,” she said.

“They were soulmates and we are all devastated that he is gone.

“He made an impact on everyone he met and you would never forget him.

“He would always put others before himself too. I remember for my daughter’s birthday one year, he made her a doll house and he stayed up all night making it perfect. She still has it now and she’s 30.”

Russ’s nieces, nephews and great-nephews all came to see him when he was in the hospital to say goodbye. They are Charlotte, Sophie, Emma, Olivia Isabella, Allana, Luke, Spencer, Reece, Harry, Harvey and Blake. He also has a great-niece on the way who will be named Willow.

“He just loved life and nothing phased him,” Kerry said.

“He loved dancing and singing. His favourite singers were Paul Weller and George Michael. He would always get me to sing with him and dance around the room.”

Describing how selfless her husband was, Kerry explained that Russ was an organ donor and so far 10 of his organs have been donated to others who need them.

“He decided to become an organ donor because of his love for motorbikes,” she said.

“He had seen and heard of a lot of young people dying in motorbike accidents so decided it was something he wanted to do.

“He loved motorbikes and had about 20 over the years. He was 16 when he got his first one.

“He was such a skilled rider, he wasn’t a boy racer and I felt so safe on the bike with him.

“He took pride in his bikes and gear - it was always pristine. He always smelt good too and wore such colourful clothes. He always wanted to buy clothes that were one of a kind.”

Kerry added that she wanted to thank the air ambulance and Kings Hospital in London for everything they did for her husband. She also wanted to thank her sister, Natalie, for her support.

The family has set up a GoFundMe to raise aid for Kerry and, it says: “Towards air ambulance donations and kings hospital donations for all their amazing work and kindness they have shown us”.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses following the crash which occurred between Littlebourne and Wingham, near the junction with Cherville Lane.

A spokesman said: “Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are keen to speak to anyone who saw what happened, or has dashcam footage of the collision or the moments leading up to it.”

Dashcam footage can be uploaded using the online portal. Anyone with information should call the police appeal line on 01622 798538 quoting reference KH/JM/078/24.

Russ, who was originally from Ashford before he moved to Whitstable and then Sturry, also leaves behind his best friend and brother-in-law Stephen, his sister-in-law Natalie, his brother Mark, his sister-in-law Leslie, his sister Debra, his brother-in-law Phillip, and his mum Pamela.