IPSWICH: Friends have today paid tribute to a keen biker who lost his life in an horrific crash as he drove to work.

Dad-of-two Robert Davis was riding his orange motorbike along Wherstead Road when he collided with a white van at about 7.25am yesterday.

Despite paramedics’ best efforts, the biker was pronounced dead at the scene.

The popular 43-year-old was originally from Shotley, where some of his family still live, but had moved to Felixstowe Road in Ipswich several years ago.

He had two young children - Zak, six, and Bella, four.

His heartbroken family were today coming to terms with their loss.

He was a keen football fan and used to play for two of his local teams, Woolverstone United and the Shotley Rose, before moving to another Sunday team in Gainsborough.

Paul Weeding, chairman of The Rose pub team, said: “It hit me quite hard when I heard about this. I had known him since he was 15, when he first started playing for us.

“He was a kind-hearted bloke. I would consider him one of the best I have ever played with. He should have played at a more senior level, but he would rather play with his mates than anything else.

“Sometimes he might come across as quite laid back, but he was a caring lad. He used to look after his mum and we’d often see him cutting her grass in the village. I hadn’t seen him as much as I’d like recently, but I will miss him terribly.”

Dave Hazelwood, secretary of Woolverstone United, had known Mr Davis for more than 30 years as they lived near each other in Orwell View Road, Shotley.

The 67-year-old said: “He packed up football a long while ago, but we would still see him now and again.

“He was a friendly chap and everyone knew him round here. He was a real gentleman.”

The devoted dad had worked as a silk-screen printer for about 20 years and was most recently based at Fox’s Marina, where he also ran a photography business - east Coast Photography. The company’s website describes his love of photography, something which he often combined “with his passion for motorcycling”.

Friend Kevin Miller, from Chelmondiston, added: “He was a great mate and a top bloke. My thoughts are with his family.”

n Would you like to pay tribute to Mr Davis? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.