'Dad died doing what he loved'

Paul Thomas died immediately when he was thrown from his sidecar during the last lap of a race on the Isle of Man Southern 100 track on Thursday.

Mr Thomas, 57, was born and brought up in Greenstead, and was a life-long motor racing fanatic.

“There is some comfort for the family he died doing exactly what he loved,” said son-in-law Pete Thomas, 29, who is married to Mr Thomas’ daughter, Claire, 25. The couple live in Colchester.

“Paul and his whole family are the type of people you hear people say are so nice and you don’t believe it until you see it.

“He has done more for me in the last five years than anyone has done for me my whole life. He was a great man.”

Mr Thomas, who was the third racer to die on the track during the meeting, moved to Ballasalla, on the Isle of Man five years ago with his wife Nancy, 56, because he would be closer to the competitive racing circuit, but still had a home in West Mersea.

“He was so well known around the circuit, on the Isle of Man and definitely here in Colchester,” added business owner Pete, 29.

“Sidecar is a very hard sport and I’ve had some very hard me on the phone crying to me.

“Paul was friends with everyone. We’ve only just announced his funeral details and already there are more than 200 people planning on going so that’s the mark of the man.”

On Thursday, daughter Claire posted a tribute on her Facebook page, saying: “We lost a true legend, brilliant dad and granddad and devoted husband.

“He died doing what he loved and we are just so proud.”

Mr Thomas’s funeral will take place at Douglas Crematorium, on the Isle of Man, on Friday, July 26 at 11.30am.

In a statement, Southern 100 organisers said Mr Thomas was an experienced sidecar passenger and had previously won on the Southern 100 course.

It added: “Paul was a hard-working member of the Southern 100 Racing organisation and a great friend to all connected with the sport of motorcycle road racing.”