Tributes to biker Dan Filby killed in ‘tragic accident’

Tributes have been paid to keen motorcyclist Dan Filby, of Tring.

The 28-year-old scaffolding site manager was travelling to London transport cafe Ace, a popular hangout for bikers, with friends when he was involved in an accident on Friday evening.

His heartbroken wife Sarah, who had been with Dan for nine years and married him almost six years ago, said: “Dan was a loving family man, a damn hard worker and a genuine decent guy.

“He lived life for today, he put all he had into everything he did.

“He would do anything for anyone and was the first to offer a helping hand.”

The father to Ruby, who turns four on Friday, and Ronny, who will be six on Saturday, kept an allotment at Tring’s Duckmore Lane site with his cousin and was a keen coarse and sea fisherman.

Sarah said: “He was just a great person.

“He loved his kids and he would have done anything for them.”

Tragedy struck while Dan was riding along the A406 on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 in what has been described as a ‘tragic accident’.

“It was his dream to own that motorbike. He loved it,” said Sarah.

Dan’s boss Matthew Loddy, from Berkhamsted firm Framework Scaffolding, said: “He was a good, good lad and I can’t believe he is not going to be here.”

Mr Loddy took on Dan nine years ago as a scaffolder who had since worked his way up the ranks to management.

“He had progressed extremely well over the last few years with us and he had moved his way into the management structure ahead of others, and that was down to the way he worked and down to his nature,” said Mr Loddy.

The young father was due to be promoted to contracts manager next month.

Now the firm is holding a collection for Dan’s wife and children and Mr Loddy said that the company hopes to put on a family day in Dan’s memory.

“We will certainly be remembering Dan,” he said.

Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Hockey Club, where Sarah is a long-standing player are also holding a collection for the grieving family.

The club’s weekly newsletter, entitled ‘A dark weekend’, said: “Notwithstanding his support for Sarah playing for our Ladies 2s, Dan was also a great supporter of our club and was a regular at many of the club’s social events.

“He was very often one of the first on and the last to get off the dance floor, which on the last occasion involved challenging all-comers to who can do the longest headstand.

“His positive love of life was infectious and he will be missed enormously across the club.”

A minute’s silence was held before the Ladies 1s and 2s games at the weekend and scores of tributes have been posted on Facebook.