TRIBUTES have been paid to a Chester motorbike rider who died following a road accident on his way home from work.

Ian Hamill, 51, of Upton was described as ‘a quietly extraordinary man’ by his wife Valerie, who works as a photographer with The Chronicle.

Coventry-born Mr Hamill was returning home from work in Manchester when his black Triumph Sprint motorbike left the carriageway after exiting Junction 12 of the M53 as he was coming on to the A56, approaching the Hoole roundabout.

There were no other vehicles involved in the collision, which happened at about 6.40pm on Thursday.

Mr Hamill, from Alpraham Crescent, was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital with head and spinal injuries but was confirmed dead at 4am the following day.

At the time of his death, Mr Hamill was a highly regarded group head of property services at Great Places Housing Group in Manchester, a role which was responsible for the maintenance of 16,000 properties.

The group’s strategic information manager, Helen McGregor, said: “Ian was someone I really looked up to. He definitely brought the very best out in me through his belief, leadership, passion, dedication, integrity and thoughtfulness.”

Mr Hamill moved to Chester at the beginning of the 80s to work as a maths teacher at Christleton High School and later at Malbank High School in Nantwich.

He subsequently worked as a housing officer in Bolton for Manchester Methodists Housing Association now known as Great Places Housing Group, Manchester.

He was a great lover of the outdoors and particularly enjoyed hill walking.

He was very proud of having taken part in various mountain marathons and orienteering challenges such as the Bob Graham Round and the Karrimor Mountain Marathons in his youth as well as completing the Scottish Munros on his 40th birthday.

He ran for pleasure in his spare time and competed in the Manchester 10k for the past three years with work colleagues.

The funeral will be held on Wednesday, October 12 at 11.30am at the chapel of Blacon Crematorium.

Donations in lieu of flowers to A&E Countess of Chester Hospital, Medecins Sans Frontieres and to Great Places Housing Group who are setting up a bursary for an apprenticeship scheme in his name.

Anyone wishing to make a direct donation to this bursary should make cheques out to Great Places Housing Group.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to call PC Russ Sime at Chester Traffic Unit on 0845 458 0000 quoting incident 852 of September 29.