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FAMILY man ... John Metcalfe who died while on a motorcycling tour of New Zealand
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Retired teacher killed in NZ bike accident
Katie Fitzpatrick29/ 2/2008
A FORMER Rochdale teacher died in New Zealand after his motorbike collided with a truck.
Father-of-two John Metcalfe, who was on a two-month motorcycling tour, was killed near Maramarua in the North Island.
The retired PE teacher and former husband of Norden councillor Ann Metcalfe died at the scene of the accident last Friday lunchtime.
The 66-year-old, of War Office Road, Bamford, was on his way to visit family friend Martyn Fisher, formerly of Passmonds, who had recently emigrated to New Zealand.
Police are trying to trace a good samaritan who tried to save Mr Metcalfe.
An off-duty nurse attended to his injuries but left the scene before the police could speak to her.
He leaves two daughters, Emma, aged 35, and Sarah, aged 34, and older sister Margery Burnside.
Mr Metcalfe’s eldest daughter Emma said: "He was in a place which he loved, he was riding his bike which he lived for and he was on his way to see somebody he cared about."
Born and raised in Slattocks, Mr Metcalfe, the son of Clifford and Edith Metcalfe, attended Thornham St John’s Primary School and Queen Elizabeth Grammar School before completing his teacher training at Alsager College.
He taught for 20 years at the former St Wilfrid’s RC School and St Cuthbert’s RC High School before he retired at the age of 50.
Mr Metcalfe devoted his spare time to touring the world on his motorbikes, taking part in competitive trials and scrambles in countries including South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
A lifelong fan of the Belle Vue Aces speedway team, he wrote reports for Motorcycle News and our sister paper, the North East Manchester Advertiser. He was also an avid photographer.
Mr Metcalfe, who found his first bike in the canal near his home when he was 13, passed his motorcycle test on his 16th birthday. He was known for following his pupils on cross-country runs on his motorbike.
Just before leaving for New Zealand he had learned that Sarah was expecting her first child in May.
Emma added: "He was a family man and a very loving dad who we called ‘DB’, short for Daddy Bear.
"He had a great sense of humour and he lived his life to the full. It is because of his passion for bikes that he will stay in people’s minds."
Mr Metcalfe’s funeral service and celebration of his life will be held at St James’s Church, Ashworth, on his birthday, Thursday 13 March.
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2/03/2008 at 02:50
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