A MEMORIAL motorcycle ride took place on Wednesday (April 12) to celebrate the life of a much-loved member of the Prestatyn biking community following his death.
Gareth Harman, who owned Gaz Harman Motorcycles in Prestatyn and worked at Jonesies Motorcycles in Kinmel Bay, died peacefully at his home on March 27, aged 61, after a battle with bowel cancer.
He is survived by his partner of 21 years, Lillian Williams; his two daughters; his two brothers; and his two grandchildren.
His funeral was held on Wednesday at Denbighshire Memorial Park and Crematorium, St Asaph prior to which about 35 to 40 motorcyclists rode past his home and through Prestatyn High Street enroute to the service.
Lillian, his partner said: “I was travelling in the car behind the hearse at the front, and the bikes were all behind us. A lot of them were his friends.
“The whole day was just a fantastic celebration of his life. To watch them stop the traffic and ride through; I felt honoured that they did that for him.”
Born in Aldershot, Gareth lived in Africa and in Chester before moving to Prestatyn with his family in 1976, where he ultimately found his home.
In his late teens, he made lifelong friends in fellow biking enthusiasts, some of whom rode at the procession on Wednesday.
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As well as his love of motorcycles, Gareth also had a passion for animals; when building a patio in his back garden, for instance he discovered a bees’ nest, and in order for them to find their nest, he put a large pipe and big yellow cross so they could identify it and fly into it.
He also became involved with the non-profit organisation “Foundation for Feathered Friends”, which helps wild birds in the UK; Gareth was actively involved in rescuing and rehabilitating seagulls.
Lillian added: “He was unconventional, funny, and very kind and generous. He’d do anything for anybody.
“He had everything in his leather jacket, which he wore for years - if you had a headache, he’d have a paracetamol. If you had indigestion, he’d have a Rennie. If you ripped your trousers, he’d have a needle and cotton.
“He genuinely cared about animals; he had been rescuing and rehabilitating injured seagulls, and he loved cats, too.
“Foundation for Feathered Friends are buying a shed, and are going to put a plaque, with his name on it, on the shed with the donations.
“He always described himself as going in and out of fashion. He never changed his style; he said he always waited for fashion to come around.
“He’d spend three hours getting ready in the bathroom to go out, and he’d come out looking exactly the same as he went in.
“He was just an all-round nice, helpful person.”
A friend of Gareth’s who helped organise Wednesday’s memorial ride was glad to help give him “the send-off that he deserved”.
He added: “Gareth was a good mechanic, who fixed a lot of people’s bikes, and a lovely, helpful man.
“He was a well-loved man, and is sadly missed.”
Denise Theophilus, who runs Foundation For Feathered Friends, also paid tribute to Gareth following his death.
Gareth was introduced to her by Lillian, who had contacted Denise for help with a poorly seagull after she had found out about the group.
Though the gull was dehydrated with serious injuries from having been trapped in netting, and could not be saved, it is through this that she got to know Gareth, an “endlessly knowledgeable” man who Denise trusted “implicitly”.
She said: “I knew he was someone who would never say no to helping a bird in distress. Even if there was absolutely no space, it didn't matter, as space would be magically found.
“He had a chemistry that made birds love him. One of our gulls, Tommy, that Gaz had gone out to rescue, used to like to sit next to him watching TV while he was kept indoors due to the freezing cold.
“I would not be in the least bit surprised if Gaz had not given him a sip of his tea, too.
“Gaz was endlessly knowledgeable, and I am he certain knew the contents of every tin or packet of food in the larder.”
Donations collected at Gareth’s funeral were to be offered to both Foundation For Feathered Friends and Feline Fur Babies North Wales, a group which helps cats in foster care.
Denise added: “Gaz could talk for Wales, England, and the rest of the British Isles, too. One telephone call lasted about one-and-a-half hours.
“How I wish I could talk with him again and hear his laugh. He always understood, and he never judged, either. He was never any different whether it was morning, noon or night, and I knew I could trust him implicitly.
“Since the day Gaz texted me to say he would not be able to help with any more birds as he was in hospital with terminal cancer, my eyes have welled up every time I think of him.
“He always managed one of his laughs, even when he was in intense pain and tired out from all of it. I just hoped he would get better and be able to get his bike and enjoy some more time on this planet.
“He was the true definition of a gentleman, which is not about a smart suit or a cultured accent. The birds and I will miss him.”
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