A 36-year-old man bought a motorbike to cut down on driving costs and four months later the novice biker was killed riding it.

Barrie Eatwell's wife had appealed to him not to buy the bike but he was determined to save money.

His decision ended in tragedy when he was involved in a collision with a lorry just a few hundred yards away from the turn off to Hamstreet, near Ashford, where he lived.

A private funeral service will be held at St Mary’s Church in Orlestone just a few yards away from the cottage where Mr and Mrs Eatwell had had a home together for the past eight years.

Victoria Jane Eatwell has spoken about her love for the former Newmarket jockey who was employed as a production worker at the time of his death.

She said: “Barrie was a 'big’ man although he was only 5ft tall. He didn’t mince his words and made me cringe sometimes.

“But he loved people dearly and would do anything for anyone. He was a real practical joker,” she added.

Mrs Eatwell, 39, spoke about how the couple had had heated discussions when he wanted to buy a motorbike instead of using his car.

She stressed: “I hate motorbikes and I told him so. I begged him not to buy one. He was keen to save money on motoring costs and argued that it made sense."

Mrs eatwell, who works at Costcutters in Hamstreet, stressed: "Everyone has been so kind. I am meeting this full on and it is the only way I can deal with it."

Mr Eatwell was a Yorkshireman who rode on the flat for several years in Newmarket where he met his wife. “He never won a race but was a regular race rider,” added Mrs Eatwell.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENTISH EXPRESS