FRIENDS and family of a Witney retained firefighter killed in a motorbike crash have raised more than £1,800 for charity in his memory.

Simon Mackrory’s partner of nine years, Laura McGilligan, has created a web page in tribute to her “ray of sunshine”.

Mr Mackrory, 38, who was also known as Snaps to friends, was on his way home to Foxburrow Lane, Crawley, for his daughter Eva’s second birthday party when his Honda CB600 was involved in a collision with a Suzuki SJ 4x4 last month.

The web page – youforum. co.uk/simonmackrory – is full of tributes to the popular firefighter, who worked at the Witney station for 11 years.

It also asks for donations to the Donna Louise Trust, a children’s hospice in Stoke-on-Trent, which supported Mr Mack-rory’s three-year-old nephew Tommy after he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

About 70 people have donated on a Just Giving site and so far the total stands at £1,820.

Miss McGilligan, 38, who described Mr Mackrory on the page as “a ray of sunshine in all our lives” – wrote: “This page has been created to enable those who wish to celebrate Simon’s life to make a donation to a charity that was very close to his heart and that of his family.

“Simon was loved by so many and will always be remembered.”

A message from Woody read: “Words cannot do justice for the kind of person Snaps was – kind, considerate, loving, fun, these are just a few.”

Andrea Carter wrote: “I will never forget how caring you were – the little things you did like turning my car around in the drive without me even asking, as you knew how useless I am at reversing out over the stream.”

About 350 people attended Mr Mackrory’s funeral last Thursday at Oxford Crematorium.

The chapel was full to capacity and many people listened on the PA system outside.

Four fire engines attended, with firefighters forming a guard of honour.

Schoolfriend Alison White, 38, of Madley Park, had known Mr Mackrory, who owned his own building surveying business, for more than 30 years.

She said: “The funeral went very well – the fire service did Simon proud.

“Laura stood up and spoke and did a great job – she said Simon had given her the strength to do it.

“It was a sad, sad occasion, but there was also lots of laughter as we all talked about Simon and his antics.”

She added: “People attending the funeral ranged from primary school friends – one even flew in from Spain – to people that Simon had done work for very recently.

“He touched many people’s lives and, being a very humble person, would have had no idea at all how well liked and respected he was.

“It would have been a huge shock to him knowing how many people wanted to pay their respects.”