The family of Jon Hawes, a motorcyclist who was killed in a fatal collision with a car between Shanklin and Ventnor on Sunday 24th May, have paid tribute to the vehicle enthusiast.
As reported by Island Echo, Mr Hawes was travelling towards Shanklin shortly before 17:00 on the Bank Holiday weekend when he was involved in a head-on collision with a white Renault Megane. Sadly Mr Hawes, from Newport, was pronounced dead at the scene.
In tribute, the family have said:
“All Jonathan’s education was centred upon Carisbrooke, at C. of E. Primary, C.of E. Middle and High School levels.
“Upon leaving school he worked for farmer, Kay Reid, on a Y.T.S. scheme. He was student of the year at the I.W. Agricultural College. However, his interest in things mechanical took him into precision work with Temperature, Micronaire and Island Sheet Metal.
“From a very young age Jonathan loved vehicles, and one of his very first words was “Car!” As a teenager he loved repairing vehicles with the late Joe Dawson. Though he loved cars, motorbikes became, and remained, his first love. Visiting the Isle of Man to watch the TT races became a priority. Large dogs were a ‘must have’ for years, until the agony of having to say goodbye, on their demise, became too much. He was for years a member of the Isle of Wight Gospel Choir, and also loved singing karaoke.
“No words can aptly describe the jolly, gentle, smiling, humorous, kindly person which was Jonathan. His lovely sense of humour could turn round ugly situations and the belligerent; he was peace loving and protective.
“In many respects, he had a hard life, but rather than allowing things to sully his character, he became enriched by it. Like the rest of us he had his faults, but his underlying Christian faith transcended all, and, in a large part, made him the man he was.”
Article continues below this advertisement
Family friends have added:
“We watched Jonathan grow from the endearing six year old with the cheeky grin, which would have got him out of any trouble, to [become] the caring, there-for-anyone-who-needed-help man he became … popular with anyone he knew, and so well liked.”
