OKEHAMPTON came to a standstill last week, when more than 100 motorcyclists drove through the town to pay their final respects to a close friend who died tragically earlier this month.

The funeral of Dave Jamieson, who died after falling 60 ft into a lake in Lifton, took place on Friday in Exeter.

Shops in Okehampton closed as adults and children in biker jackets lined the streets to watch the parade of motorcyclists, who were following a motorcycle hearse.

The parade, which left Okehampton Rugby Club in the afternoon, made its way on to the old A30 to Whiddon Down and then to Exeter Crematorium.

A selection of Mr Jamieson's favourite songs were played at the funeral, including Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin and Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Good friend of Mr Jamieson, Gideon Hutt said: 'The service was very good.

'A lot of people knew him and there was a fair amount of people on the streets. It was nice to think that people thought that much of him to come outside and shut their shops.'

Martin Adkins, who had known Mr Jamieson for 35 years, said he was overwhelmed by the turnout on the streets and at the funeral.

He said: 'There were more people in the town than there was at Okehampton carnival. It was the same in Sticklepath and there were even people lining the lay-by at Whiddon Down and on the bridge at Tedburn.

'Dave's dad used to own the Devonshire Inn and there were lots of people there, as well as from The Taw River.'

Mr Adkins expressed thanks to the police, who escorted the parade.

He said: 'The local constabulary were absolutely brilliant — two police motorcyclists shut the roads that joined the dual carriageway, so we had a clear run. They were first class.'

Mr Adkins said the service was so crowded not everyone could get inside.

He said: 'There must have been another 100 odd people when we got there. The service was nothing more than the man deserved, it was very sad, but a fantastic service.

'I said a few words and finished it off by saying that we'll see Dave at another time, in another place — I'd like to think there's a highway in the stars we can ride along together, when our time is up.'

Friend of Mr Jamieson, Brian Elson, said: 'Dave's half brother, Rev Richard Becher, said a lovely line, "tonight there will be another star in the sky" and we thought that was very true.

'A lot of people have asked me if it's possible to put together a DVD — there were people filming at Sticklepath and on the fly-over at Whiddon Down, as well as myself, and I would love to know who they are.'

Mr Elson also gave thanks to Okehampton Rugby Club, who held the wake for Mr Jamieson. He said: 'The club were great, really fantastic and very supportive.

'We will be having another wake for Dave when the Peterborough boys, who came down for the funeral, ride back this Sunday and meet us at Taw River in Sticklepath.'

l Pictured left, bikers on their way to Exeter Crematorium for the funeral. Picture by Steven Haywood