Motorcyclist died doing what he loved

Brett Ronald Willetts, known by his friends as Lettuce, died in a motorcycle crash on the West Coast on Christmas Eve.

Family and friends of the 49-yearold gathered at his home track on Saturday to ‘‘celebrate his love and passion for the sport, gathering for refreshments and laps of honour while Lettuce does one last lap before heading to his final resting place’’.

An obituary notice said the father of five died suddenly ‘‘doing what he loved riding his track’’.

A police spokeswoman said emergency services were alerted to the crash on a private property in Charleston, near Westport, at 5.27pm on Christmas Eve.

He died at the scene, she said. His son, Breyon, said his father was ‘‘action packed and full of energy’’.

‘‘He was always doing stuff and always busy,’’ he said.

‘‘He was a great, energetic guy to be around.

‘‘He loved his dirt bikes and his family.’’

He said he would be missed by his wife, Andrea, his sons, Breyon, Nathan and Connor, and his daughters, Marah and Gemma.

Westland Motorcycle Club member Terry Young said his friend will be sorely missed in the motorcycle community.

Willetts had a ‘‘full on passion’’ about the sport.

‘‘Even though he was quite loud and gruff he broke down barriers very quickly with all sorts of people in society.

‘‘That’s what I liked about Lettuce. He’s a genuine bloke,’’ Young said.

Despite riding for years all around the country, the Coaster had put his roots at Charleston with his partner and children.

‘‘That’s why the guy’s a legend. At the end of the day he had old school morals, standards,’’ Young said.

‘‘He was pretty hardcore, but the guy had a genuineness that society is really going to miss.’’

Yesterday, the club welcomed riders at Lettuce’s ‘‘home track’’ to celebrate his love and passion for the sport.