By Katy EdwardsTHE partner of a man killed in a motorcycle crash has vowed to take his name as a mark of their love.Charlotte Marsh, 27, exchanged wedding rings with 29-year-old David Weir, the father of her two young children, at a special ceremony after his death.

By Katy Edwards

THE partner of a man killed in a motorcycle crash has vowed to take his name as a mark of their love.

Charlotte Marsh, 27, exchanged wedding rings with 29-year-old David Weir, the father of her two young children, at a special ceremony after his death.

She said: “We'd always said we'd have the same name. He used to call me 'wifey' or 'babe' and would say he loved me 100%. I just wanted our love for each other to be blessed.”

The blessing was conducted by a vicar at the chapel of rest at Ipswich Hospital.

Miss Marsh will now go through proper legal channels to adopt Mr Weir's surname for herself and her children Leel, five, and eight-month-old Baylee.

Mr Weir, known as “Weiro” or “Beery” to his friends, had been heading to the pub with his family after lunch on Sunday when he nipped across the road to ride a friend's motorcycle.

Miss Marsh, his partner of seven years, said: “He dashed across like an excited little boy. He told me he'd only be 10 minutes. I never saw him again.”

Mr Weir was killed after the bike struck a road sign just yards from Ipswich Hospital, in Heath Road.

Miss Marsh, who lived with Mr Weir in Renfrew Road, Ipswich, added: “It shouldn't have happened. He was a real bloke, into his fast cars and bikes. He loved watching Top Gear.”

Before he died, the couple had discussed names for their next children. It had been Mr Weir who had thought of Leel for their first child, after his grandmother Lil.

“We were only talking about it the other day. We were going to have two more, the next was going to be a girl,” said Miss Marsh.

“At least Leel will have some memory of his Dad, he loved him to bits. Baylee had started saying 'dada' two days before he died. He cut his first tooth on the day of our blessing.”

The couple were also planning their first holiday abroad this summer, possibly to Spain, with Mr Weir's father Thomas.

Mr Weir grew up on Foxhall Road in Ipswich, the only son of Thomas and Iris, attending Cliff Lane Primary and Copleston High Schools before working in the building trade.

He was a county darts player and also enjoyed indoor bowls with his dad.

“He loved his smokes and having a bet. There were three betting slips in his pockets on the day he died,” said Miss Marsh.

Mr Weir met Miss Marsh while out on the town in Ipswich and it was love at second, if not first sight.

Miss Marsh, a former Northgate High School pupil, had turned him down the first time their paths crossed, but six weeks later they met again and were together for seven happy years.

“We started dating and living together from day one. I remember one night out on the town, he jumped into the docks for a £20 bet,” she recalled.

“It took four of us to pull him out and he came up covered in barnacles and stinking of the river. He said 'see what I'd do for you, babe?'

“He was so good looking with big, blue eyes. It was a whirlwind romance. He was one in a million.”

Mr Weir's funeral service will be held at St Andrew's Church, Rushmere St Andrew, on March 25 at 10.15am followed by interment in the Old Cemetery, Ipswich. Floral tributes can be sent to the Co-operative Chapel of Rest, 54 Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich.

katy.edwards@eadt.co.uk