A HUGE procession of scooters is expected to ride through the centre of York in memory of an enthusiast known to his friends as “Vespa John”.

John Norman Martin died suddenly in his sleep at his Bishopthorpe home on March 30 last year, aged 53.

The York Inset Scooter Club has organised a charity scooter ride in John’s memory on Sunday, from the Castle Museum in York to Hutton-le-Hole. Riders have paid £5 to take part and all proceeds will go to the York branch of the Normandy Veterans Association.

For the last seven years of his life John had been a member of the club where he was a familiar sight on his Vespa, called Chips which was decorated in the colours of a US highway patrol motorcycle.

John’s sister, Dawn Pawson, will be joining in the weekend ride with her husband, Nigel. She thanked those taking part on behalf of herself, her brother, David, and sister, Caroline.

She said: “The bikers have been great to my family since John died and we would really like to thank them for all their effort. I think the ride on Sunday will be brilliant and the charity they have chosen is a very worthy one. My son, Peter is 21 and in the RAF, so I’m very much in favour of their choice. I think they are hoping that the event could become an annual thing if all goes well.

“We’re not sure exactly how many people will be there on Sunday, but we’re expecting a good turnout.”

John was born in Campleshon Road, York, and was a pupil at Tadcaster Grammar School. He was one of the earliest members of York Scooter Club when it was founded in the 1970s. Riders are expected to gather outside the museum at 9.30am on Sunday for a 10.30am start.