Tributes have been paid to a “pioneering” motorcyclist instructor who embodied the “traditional English spirit” and taught thousands how to become more safer and skillful riders.

Terry Friday, from Allington, near Maidstone, passed away in August after a battle with a long-term illness, aged 87.

The enthusiastic motorcyclist started his working life as an apprentice shipbuilder in Chatham Dockyard before a national service stint serving in the army in Cyprus.

He later joined the police where he was able to pursue his first love of football and played semi-professionally for Gillingham as a goalkeeper – he also played hockey for the force.

Terry also had a love for driving and competed in European police car rallies and it was these skills he used when training officers to drive and ride safely at Kent Police Driving School.

He gained such a revered reputation for his work that in the late 70s the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) reached out for him to become an examiner.

But while instructing RAC/ACU volunteers, he noticed none were at the right level and felt the standard driving test did not equip people to ride motorbikes safely.

The only credited advance test at the time was the IAM advanced rider test and it could not be taken unless you were a member of the group. All of the members were car groups and not a single motorbike-only group had been registered.

Yet Terry was about to change all that, laying the foundations for what later became the Kent Advanced Motorcyclists Group (KAMG), which on April 10 1980, officially became the first IAM-affiliated, motorbike-only group.

The group first met in The Lantern on Charing Hill with 170 riders attending, but soon the group grew so big that it had to eventually move to its current home at Brands Hatch in 1985.

At its most recent count, it has around 380 members signed on to its books.

Terry and other group leaders rode the lengths of the country to advise others in setting up motorbike groups and how they could become affiliated in their own right.

It is now estimated more than 18,000 riders – both directly and indirectly – owe their advanced skillset to the foundation laid by Terry and his efforts.

Upon learning of the sad passing of the “father of advanced motorcycling”, KAMG paid their respects to their founder, posting “The importance of this man, not only to those who knew him personally; not only to the KAMG; not only to the IAM, but also to the literally thousands of motorcyclists across this country who didn’t know him or even know of him, cannot be overstated.

“Whether those riders are here in Kent or in Scotland or Northern Ireland or in Wales, if there had been no Terry Friday, they probably wouldn’t be wearing a Green Badge.

“The KAMG alone has trained over 3000 riders to Green Badge standard, and add to that the thousands that have been trained by other groups, groups that only exist today because Terry made their existence possible, and you see just how much we all owe him.”

Many riders owe much to him, he was so keen to save lives...

Camelia Holley knew Terry while working at the Police HQ in the 70’s and was taught her skills on a bike by him directly.

She said: “Many riders owe much to him, he was so keen to save lives he would say he would never want anyone to end up losing their life on the road.

“He always reminded me of water on a bike he was so smooth.

“He was a very kind and honest man. I knew him all those years and he was such a gentleman, the traditional English spirit, so polite well-mannered, and a thoroughly nice person. I cannot praise him enough.”

Terry’s family said: “We have been overwhelmed by the lovely tributes and kind words from the friends that attended the celebration.

“We send a big thank you to the KAMG who have not only helped Dad throughout the good times but also throughout his illness. They also found time to support us through this sad time.”

More than 50 of its members were led by a police escort on Monday October 2 as part of a procession where his ashes were taken from Mickey’s Diner on the A229 Blue Bell Hill to the Headcorn Aerodrome – chosen as they were family favourites and were one of his preferred places to ride.

Headcorn was a special place for Terry and his son which is why it was chosen as the destination for the flypast and celebration of life.

Afterwards Terry’s family, friends, former work colleagues, and KAMG members reminisced in the airfield bar and restaurant.

A book of condolence was signed and packets of ‘Forget-me-not’ seeds were given out for all to plant and to remember Terry by.

A statement on the KAMG website paid further tribute to Terry, following the event, describing him as a “true visionary” who leaves a huge legacy and who will forever be remembered as “the pioneer for IAM motorcycle groups”.