TRIBUTES have been paid to the "family man" who died on the A49 near Moreton-on-Lugg last week.

Hugh McGuigan, known to most people as 'Chris', died following the incident on September 29.

In a tribute, his wife, Sarah McGuigan, has described the 55-year-old as an "all round good person" and a family man who “loved his bike, his job and was happy with his life”.

Born in Belfast, Mr McGuigan moved to Australia as a baby with his parents.

His sisters, Marie and Patricia, were born there but the family moved back to Northern Ireland when he was four.

He fulfilled an ambition to work for the Royal Air Force for 10 years. Ranked as a junior technician, his job as an avionic aircraft technician took him all over the UK and further afield.

“Chris loved his career in the British Forces yet was very proud of being Irish,” said Mrs McGuigan.

It was in Leicestershire that the couple first met after Mr McGuigan left the RAF, and Mrs McGuigan had been working in a hotel near Melton Mowbray.

“Chris came in for a drink with his friend, Keith. He turned and said to him: ‘I’m going to marry her one day.’ Keith replied: ‘How on earth do you know that?!’," said Mrs McGuigan.

“He was lovely and charming, and quite the ladies man. Just a few months later, we were engaged. We moved to Leominster, my hometown, and got married in 1991 at the Priory Church."

While in Leominster, Mr McGuigan worked as a maintenance engineer between 1990 and 2008 before finding employment at Cadbury’s in Marlbrook.

Mr McGuigan is survived by his two children, Ty, 17, and Theo, eight, as well as his mum, two sisters, two nephews, two nieces and three great nieces. The family said he was especially close to his two nephews, Jonny and Mark.

“On Chris’s 40th birthday he asked for a motorbike, the kit and all of the instruction," added Mrs McGuigan.

"That’s what he got. Every year, Chris and his friend, Julian, went on a biking holiday for a few days. Some of the places they visited were France, Ireland and the Isle of Man."

She added that he had not been in an accident in 15 years of motorcycling.

"My own father died when I was 11 and now my two boys are without their dad," Mrs McGuigan said.

"I don’t want another family to go through this.

“Overall, Chris was the sort of person who would help anyone, from our elderly neighbours to his friends at work. He was a good man who loved his family, friends and his job. He had an amazing sense of humour and made us laugh all the time. We will miss him terribly.”

In memory of his dad, Ty McGuigan will be taking on the 2015 Adidas half marathon on March 15 at Silverstone.

He will be running to raise money for Winston’s Wish, a charity which supports bereaved children.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/Ty-McGuigan

To celebrate Mr McGuigan’s life, a memorial service will be held at the Priory Church in Leominster on Tuesday October 14 at 2pm.

• A 19-year-old woman from Ellesmere Port in Cheshire was arrested last week in connection with the accident. She was bailed, pending further inquiries.