From Sheet Metal Worker to Motorcycle Minister: The Inspirational Story of the Faster Pastor and his Sidecar Hearse

“Now look son, if Tarzan could train a chimpanzee, I’m sure I can do something with you.” In the end I left my apprenticeship and went to Bible college. I had been a Christian since school and had the idea that after my studies I could work on missionary boats because I could use my metal skills to fix them.

But it became apparent my trade wasn’t needed on the ships. I was offered a posting at Kensington Temple and from there I became a minister at a Pentecostal church in Willesden, north-west London. My nickname was the Faster Pastor because I was also a keen motorcyclist.

Then, in 2002, I had a near-fatal accident while I was out riding with my wife. We were in hospital for weeks with serious injuries.

A few years previously, I had seen a photograph of a man who had built a platform next to his bike to carry a coffin. It was a simple design but it was an idea that had stayed with me.

I used to mull over in my head how I could build a proper sidecar hearse. I remember thinking that if I had died the day of my accident, I would have been taken to my funeral in a Volvo. I’m not having that, I thought.

I had been off work for so long that it made sense for me to sign off. I was in pain and not able to give the pastoral care I wanted to. Meanwhile, I decided to design my own sidecar hearse.

It took me three months to build but it was very rudimentary. I had to tie the doors shut with shoelaces because they would open spontaneously.

When people in the hearse industry refused  o be seen driving next to me I realised I needed to re-design. One of the problems was that in a normal the stresses are horizontal. I worked around that and, after three months, I managed to build an industry-standard hearse. It’s a proper sidecar hearse, with windows, air conditioning and a flower rail. I was really proud of my design.

Now, eight and a half years on, I always drive the bike and very occasionally I conduct the service too. I’ve lost count of how many funerals I have done.

If we only get one a day, it’s a quiet time. We get all kinds of people who want to make their last journey on a bike.

We have elderly people who used to take their families out in a sidecar. I recently did a biker’s funeral and we had 100 bikes following. It was quite powerful and great for the family because they had never seen that side of the deceased’s life. If we do a sports biker’s funeral, some of the guys will overtake me doing wheelies and burn-outs.

A common request is for a man who always wanted a bike but his wife wouldn’t let him. Usually at the children’s persuasion, the widow will finally let him have his last journey on a bike.

I have even taken a coffin for a lap around the TT circuit on the Isle of Man. We went at full speed with the family following.

As a pastor, I was taught how to do funerals. I was taught to remind people of the deceased’s life and I think I do it even better now.