Fitting send-off for well-known motorbike mechanic

George Pollard, who ran Pollard Motorcycles in Dinnington, died last month at the age of 82.

His coffin was even driven to the church in a sidecar.

Bikers rolled through the streets of Dinnington for a service at St Leonard’s Church before interment at Bramley Cemetery,

Mr Pollard’s sister Jayne Giles said: “He loved a good funeral so he would have loved this one.”

Grandfather-of-ten Mr Pollard’s health deteriorated earlier this year when he suffered a stroke and he moved to The Glades care home in Dinnington.

Jayne said he was desperate to get back to his garage and “virtually lived in it”.

He died at Rotherham Hospital on May 16 from pneumonia after a chest infection.

Widower Mr Pollard was born profoundly deaf in Bramley in 1933 and could not speak until he was 11.

He was the oldest of six siblings and along with Jayne was brother to Sylvia, Mary, Olive, Kath and Bob.

Mr Pollard attended Wickersley St Alban’s School and Wickersley Comprehensive School.

His first job was sweeping the roads and then he had a van from which he sold sweets.

His parents, Eva and George Snr, bought the Clarence Street garage in 1964 and their shared love of motorcycles rubbed off on George junior.

George initially ran a haulage firm next door to the garage, but when his parents died he took it over.

Jayne (65), of Mexborough, said: “Everybody in the motorbike world knew him and Pollards of Dinnington.

“He used to go all over the world, including America twice a year to buy bikes”

During his two marriages he had six daughters, of which three are still alive.