A RETAINED firefighter who died in a motorcycle crash while on his way to his daughter’s second birthday party has been described as a “ray of sunshine”.

His partner of nine years Laura McGilligan, 38, paid tribute to Simon Mackrory, who was killed on Saturday in Crawley Road, Witney.

She said: “He was everything, my best friend, my rock, my partner, my love. All those things rolled into one. He was always joking and always laughing.”

Mr Mackrory, 38, was on his way home for his daughter Eva’s birthday party when his black Honda CB600 was involved in a collision with a red Suzuki SJ motorcycle.

Miss McGilligan said: “When I first met him, the Gabrielle song Sunshine Through My Window was always in my mind because he was a breath of fresh air and somebody to lean on.

“He was just a ray of sunshine and just so vibrant.

“He was a very loving man, a very good father, a very good partner, just full of laughter, which is why it is so hard. He used to come home and sing.”

Miss McGilligan, of Foxburrow Lane, Crawley, said: “He was so excited about his daughter’s party. Before he left, he was laughing at the way I wrapped up the pass the parcel and by the time I finished it was the size of a child.

“The day before we had a lovely time preparing for Eva’s party. He loved to make cakes, especially chocolate cake ,and he was so excited that he was going to make her birthday cake.”

Mr Mackrory, who lived in Witney his whole life, was also a retained firefighter in the town for 11 years.

Miss McGilligan, a marketing executive at RM in Abingdon, said: “Unfortunately, he attended a lot of road traffic accidents himself. It was in his blood, he loved the fire brigade and relished the fact that he could help people.

“We were on holiday in Portugal a few years ago and we were going down the motorway and there was a big crash.

“Nobody could look as it was a horrific accident but Simon, without any question, got out of the vehicle and ran to see what he could do.”

Witney Fire Station plans to create a permanent memorial to the popular firefighter.

Steve Harrison, fire risk manager for west Oxfordshire and Cherwell, said: “Simon was very professional and a good firefighter and will be sadly missed.

“His colleagues and friends are absolutely devastated by what has happened and the station and the fire service itself will be doing everything that we can to support Laura and their daughter Eva and the family at this very sad time.”

Mr Mackrory left Henry Box School and joined the Navy as he wanted to train as a diver. But he eventually left to become a plumber after a year of being sea sick.

He later worked as a building surveyor for West Oxfordshire District Council for almost eight years and eventually left to start his own business.

Mr Mackrory spent his spare time at the West Oxfordshire Sailing Club, where he found his sea legs and trained cadets.

Miss McGilligan said: “He was a very good sailor and won a lot of trophies, he absolutely adored it.”

Mr Mackrory’s family — including mum Valerie, brother Stephen and sister Tracey — intend to scatter his ashes in Poole Harbour, Dorset, along with his father Mick’s, who died last year.

A funeral date has not yet been set.

Miss Gilligan and schoolfriend Alison White, 38, of Witney — who attended Queen Emma’s Dyke School and Henry Box School with Mr Mackrory — want to produce a book of memories for his daughter.

Miss McGilligan said: “If anyone has any memories of him, any photographs or even if it is just a silly memory, we have asked them to write it down and give it to us so that it’s something to show Eva when she is older.”

To contact Mrs White with memories about Mr Mackrory, call 01993 706792 or email alison@azuranetworks.com.

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