Farewell to a stunt rider who thrilled the crowds (From Thisisdorset)

11:00am Friday 29th August 2008

A KEEN motorcycle enthusiast and former stunt rider from Weymouth has died aged 77.

Brian Huddy, from Preston, was a scrambler during the 1950s, riding under the number 222.

He wowed crowds in Weymouth and beyond by jumping over up to nine cars at a time on his beloved bike.

Close friend Graham Paul said Mr Huddy died at Dorset County Hospital from complications arising from heart valve surgery.

"Brian will be sorely missed," he said. "He was very popular."

Mr Huddy, of Sutton Road, was born on January 22, 1931, but never knew his parents and was brought up in a Wyke Regis children's home.

He became a landscape gardener by trade and met Mr Paul more than 40 years ago when the pair started working together.

Mr Paul said: "Brian was a real character, there are no two ways about that.

"He had no family growing up so he was very independent but he was well-liked by everyone.

"Sadly he never really recovered from having the valve fitted.

"He was in and out of hospital over the last three months."

Mr Huddy, a scramble rider with Weymouth Motorbike Club, started stunt riding after a pal dared him to jump over a car.

He went on to perform at the Wessex Stadium, the Big Affair in Chickerell, the Dorset Steam Fair and other events as far as Bristol and King's Lynn.

Mr Paul, from Wyke Regis, said: "Brian's scrambling and stunt riding was what he was best known for.

"You only had to mention scrambling or motorbikes and he'd come up. Everyone seemed to know Brian."

Mr Huddy admitted that his passion regularly landed him in hospital and even cost him a wife, but said he was 'mad on bikes'.

"I felt good jumping, it was thrilling," he said last year.

"I always got excited and it was something different.

"I used to get such a kick out of it."

Mr Huddy even agreed to step in for protege Colin Ayles when the young stunt rider injured his back in an accident in 1981.

But he suffered the same injury in a similar crash and ended up in the same hospital ward as Mr Ayles.

Mr Ayles, now 50, from Portland, said: "It's such a sad loss. Brian was a true character.

"There's just so much I could say about him."

Mr Ayles, who helps run Hants and Dorset Youth Motocross Club, will pay tribute to Mr Huddy this Sunday.

He added: "We've got a meeting at the Great Dorset Maize Maze and I'm going to ride wearing his number 222.

"If Brian was still with us and he'd been well enough I'm sure he would've been there."

A funeral service is being held for Mr Huddy at Weymouth Crematorium on September 8.

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