“I WILL be a story in your head, but that’s ok. We are all stories in the end, just make yours a good one, eh?”

Respects were paid to inspirational 28-year-old Michael ‘Mikkie’ Mahon in trademark style yesterday as hundreds of friends and family brought Swindon to a standstill.

Mikkie died tragically in a motorcycle accident while riding in the Forest of Dean last month, and hundreds of bikers joined a huge hearse streaming through the streets of Swindon during the afternoon.

Travelling from the Blade Trade Centre, where Mikkie worked as a salesman, the group of more than 300 weaved past the family home in Croft Road before joining a huge crowd at Kingsdown Crematorium.

As the hearse arrived, the group were encouraged to ‘let rip’, and the air filled with a blistering rev of engines to give Mikkie a great send-off.


Swindon Advertiser:  IN PICTURES: Bikers' tribute to Michael Mahon


Mourners entered the crematorium to the sounds of Take my Breath Away by Berlin, the Top Gun theme reflecting Mikkie’s passion for speed.

Family and friends addressed the crowd who were crammed in and spilling outside of the doors to share their memories of Mikkie, who leaves behind partner Charlotte and their unborn daughter, parents Michael and Susan, and older brother, Matt.

“My earliest memory of Mikkie is when we were four or five years old,” said Matt. “We were sitting on our patio at our house in Eldene and bickering about who was older. He could not understand I was his older brother, because his birthday was in May and mine is in December.

“That was classic Mikkie, because he was always trying to get ahead in life. As we grew older not a lot changed. Instead of competing with conkers and marbles we were competing about jobs and houses. He beat me every time.

“When I first heard he and Charlotte were expecting a baby it was one of the best days of my life. I know he would be the best dad you could ask for. When they found out it was a girl, he told me they had provisionally chosen the name Isla, which I thought was a beautiful name.

“Then he asked me to say the name out loud. It took me a moment then it clicked, Isla Mahon, of course he meant the Isle of Man TT racing circuit. We laughed about that, then he said she hadn’t figured it out yet.

“When a loved one passes away, people stand here and say how full of life that person was. When it comes to Mikkie I can’t think of anything better that applies to him. He was the most alive person I know.

“Words cannot describe my little brother. He had charisma, charm and sophistication.

“I thought of a quote I doubt Mikkie would appreciate because it is from a TV show I love, Doctor Who.

“I will be a story in your head, but that’s okay. We are all stories in the end, just make yours a good one, eh?”

Mikkie’s best friend and ‘action bud’, Steve Scully, did not leave a dry eye in the house.

“I thought at the beginning of our journey I had been hired by Mikkie’s mum to keep him on the straight and narrow,” he said. “I don’t know why I was the chosen one but for that I will always be grateful. I spent some of the greatest years of my life in the company of Mikkie.

“He did not need guidance, and would not have taken it anyway, it was only focus. I was fortunate that together Mikkie and I would discover those focuses. Every one of our adventures helped me shape my time, and I will continue to share those. Mikkie may have been taken from us too soon, but no-one can take those moments in time we shared.

“He loved life, and lived it by three simple rules. Rule One, ‘I’m up for it’. If it is do-able, Mikkie was up for it. Rule Two, ‘I’m good at it.’ You would never hear that from his mouth, but he could master any craft he set his hand to. Rule Three, ‘I’m good for it.’ Ask him to pick you up from some remote airport, and the first text you get when your signal returns is from Mikkie saying ‘I’m outside with a Coke ready’.

“Ask Mikkie to be your best man, and I know in this case he would have been good for it.

“Life is a disco that will inevitably end. But you can choose who you go with, and you can choose who you dance with.”

Jake Mead, with support from Mikkie’s close friends, read a poem in memory of ‘Super Mahon’.

“Having known Mikkie for up to 18 years, we wondered how much growing up he had done in that time,” he said. “The first answer was not that much, but there is more to the man than that.

“I can remember going into Mikkie’s room when he was about seven and he was crying. He said he hated being a kid and couldn’t wait to be a grown up. He spent the rest of his life doing the opposite. Despite his youthful outlook he was respected by people of all age groups, who are here today.

“His outlook on life was something I think we could all use a little bit more of.”

Chris Waldron, from Blade Trade Centre, paid tribute to one of the best salesmen the company had seen. “Many won’t have had Mikkie as a friend at work, and I am so pleased we had that with this man who had a massive impact on the world with his charisma and enthusiasm,” he said.

“We never had one bad word or complaint about his customer service, and he had superhuman skills. Bikes were a massive part of his life. Mikkie is gone now and there is nothing we can do about that other than remember him and never forget.

“Charlotte, Michael, Susanne and Matt, you are all our friends because we are his friends, and we will be here for you. Mikkie, ride in peace mate.”

Swindon Advertiser:

Motorbikes were a passion for the popular Michael Mahon, who was killed while riding in the Forest of Dean

Mikkie’s biking friend, Nick King, said: “Mikkie would have been so proud to see so many people here today. Everybody who turned up on their bikes did an amazing job, and he would have been so happy listening to those revving engines.

“It is not how long you have lived in this world, but the impression you leave. Mikkie made you feel special and could always make you laugh. There was always a coffee shop stop where you would go and have a chat with Mikkie. On the odd occassion you would end up walking out with a bike you did not think you wanted. I have several of those bikes now.

“On the track he would turn his head, give you the thumbs -up, and speed off into the distance, but you knew he always had a smile on his face.

“Mikkie’s enthusiasm made you do things you probably never would have contemplated, and he was always there to help you get your bike out of the mud. He was talented, gifted, loyal, motivated, and an inspiration as to how we should all live our lives. It has been an honour and a privilege. As he would say, let’s go big, or go home.”

The crowd had several private moments of prayer during more songs including Mikkie’s dancefloor favourite Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson, a choice from his parents in Carrie Underwood’s How Great Thou Art, and a favourite of his and partner Charlotte, Ed Sheeran’s All Of The Stars.

The wake was held at the Rat Trap, with donations made in Mikkie’s memory to Wiltshire Air Ambulance.