A SHOCKED and grieving friend has paid tribute to a passionate Suffolk motorcyclist who died in a road accident.Sue Wells, another motorbike enthusiast, said that her father-figure Adrian Leech was the life and soul of the party.

A SHOCKED and grieving friend has paid tribute to a passionate Suffolk motorcyclist who died in a road accident.

Sue Wells, another motorbike enthusiast, said her father-figure Adrian Leech, 45, was the life and soul of the party.

She said Adrian – a service manager at Martlesham motor dealers Jewells – would be greatly missed and fondly remembered his caring and polite nature.

Adrian, a member of the Felixstowe Motorcycle Club, had been passionate about riding his Honda Fire Blade. He loved the freedom of going out on the road and going to race days.

Sue, 28, his lodger at Langstons, Trimley St Mary, said: "He will be deeply missed by everyone. He was like a father to me. He helped everyone out at the club if you had a problem with a motorbike.

"He was genuine, kind and caring – old school, very polite-mannered.

"He will be greatly missed by everyone. We used to go on the road, we used to all go camping and to race days and he used to enjoy trip days on his Fire Blade."

Adrian had "more energy than us youngsters," said Sue, and would always be on the dancefloor at parties.

She said he had a great sense of humour, especially when he went out to fancy dress parties dressed as Austin Powers.

Adrian, who was not

married and did not have any children, could do a fantastic impression of the movie icon and would call everyone at the party "dude".

Adrian leaves parents, who live in Martlesham, and a sister, Wendy. He was a popular man and known as a reliable friend.

Sue said people were always coming and going from his house, which was used as a meeting point.

With the Motorcycle Club he organised trips and last year went to the Birmingham NEC's Motorcycle Show where Sue can still remember the delight on his face as he looked around the machines on display.

Sue was told about Adrian's motorbike accident when someone called her on her mobile phone.

His motorbike had been in

collision with a Nissan Almera in Old Felixstowe Road, Nacton on Sunday

at 4pm as thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts made their way home from the Copdock Motorcycle Show at Suffolk Showground.

Sue rushed to the scene and travelled in the

ambulance with him to Ipswich Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

She said he was a very sensible rider and was the last person she would have expected to have a crash.

Sue said Adrian was passionate about bikes and died doing something he loved.