THE death of popular motorcycle racer Roy Gunning will be marked with a procession of riders to his funeral.

Mr Gunning, known as "Tonner Gunner" in motorcycle circles, died of cancer of the oesophagus last Tuesday, aged 64.

His brother Trevor said Mr Gunning was among the top motorcycle racers in Swindon in the 1960s.

He raced at local airfield competitions as well as taking on famous British circuits including Silverstone.

Mr Gunning said his brother was good enough to compete at the highest TT competition level but a shortage of funding meant he stayed in the amateur ranks.

"He was one of Swindon's original riders and bike enthusiasts," Mr Gunning said.

He got his first bike in 1961 as a 19-year-old and won his first race in 1962.

Mr Gunning said: "He didn't race TT. He was good enough but he didn't have the money."

His nickname "Tonner Gunner" was earned hitting the ton, or 100mph, on timed trips between coffee shops around Swindon and Wiltshire.

Mr Gunning said his brother drifted away from racing, working as a gas engineer and starting a family before returning in his forties.

"He came back in the 1980s," Mr Gunning said.

"He had some unfinished business."

Mr Gunning competed on classic Nortons, which he rebuilt himself.

In 1985 he came third in the British Classic Racing Club championship.

"He was also a master at rebuilding engines and machines," Mr Gunning said.

"He won best racing machine at the Bristol Classic Motorcycle Show in 1987.

"He fuelled quite a few people's enthusiasm for rebuilds."

Mr Gunning's last project was rebuilding a BSA Goldstar 650.

He gave his two surviving sons Vincent and Richard instructions from his hospital bed how best to finish it.

"Bikes and his family were his loves," Mr Gunning said.

The bike will lead the motorcycle procession to the Mr Gunning's home in Alvescot Road to the funeral at Kingsdown Crematorium on Thursday at 2pm.

Mr Gunning said all of his brother's friends and the motorcycle fraternity were invited to the service.

He said any riders who wanted to join the procession should form up at the end of Alvescot Road by 1.40pm.

"We would like to invite any of his old biker friends or any bikers to follow his car to the crematorium," Mr Gunning said.

Mr Gunning was married twice.

He has four surviving children sons Vincent and Richard and daughters Tanya and Holly and grandchildren.

His youngest son Scott died in 1982.

Mr Gunning was diagnosed with throat cancer two years ago, and fought that off but was recently diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus.

He was riding his bike up until a week before he entered hospital.