A HEARTBROKEN family has taken the agonising decision to go ahead with a wedding just five days after the groom's father died in a tragic accident.

Albert Pateman's widow, Jean, said simply: it's what he would have wanted.

Bert, a father-of-three, had been looking forward to Saturday to see youngest son, Christopher, tie the knot with his fiance, Claire.

The couple are to have a child in May. It would have been Bert's fifth grandchild.

On Monday his Peugeot scooter and a lorry collided in Hull Road, York, as he was travelling from his home in Wilberfoss to his job as a chef at York's Dean Court Hotel.

He suffered neck and pelvis injuries and died later that day in Leeds General Infirmary.

Bert's family is reeling with the grief of his loss - but they are bravely going ahead with their wedding plans in the firm belief that the 59-year-old chef would not have wanted it to be postponed or cancelled.

When the newlywed couple take the floor for their first dance, it will be to the strains of Bert's favourite song, the Rod Stewart classic, Maggie May.

"He wouldn't have wanted him to postpone the wedding at all," said Bert's widow, Jean, as she paid tribute to her husband.

Christopher, who is in the Royal Air Force along with his brother, Richard, plans to settle in Norfolk where he is stationed after the wedding in York.

He told the Evening Press: "We couldn't think of a first dance so we chose Dad's favourite song."

We couldn't think of a first dance, so we chose dad's favourite song

FAMILY and friends left reeling with shock at the sudden death of scooter rider Bert Pateman have paid tribute to a man they described simply as "the best".

Bert's wife, Jean, said of her loving husband and father to Richard, Christopher and Louise: "He was fair, understanding, with many friends. He was a really friendly, lovely man. I think he was the best."

Bert's youngest son, Christopher, said: "He was one of the kindest, gentlest men you would ever meet. He would put you first. He was a pretty good judge of character, and would be anybody's friend."

Christopher, who shared his father's interest in motorbikes, said he had been riding for 25 years and was a very safe rider who never cut corners or broke the speed limit.

Bert's daughter, Louise, who has two children, said he would be remembered for his dry sense of humour as well as for being "a lovely grandad".

"The kids loved him," she said.

Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Bert remained a loyal supporter of Rotherham United, having played for their junior side as a youngster. After leaving Rotherham, he and Jean took over the helm of the Carpenters' Arms, at Fangfoss, in East Yorkshire, from 1988 for nine years before settling in Wilberfoss.

Trained as a chef, Bert then became a popular figure at the Dean Court Hotel, York, where he prepared the breakfasts and lunches. In a letter to the family, David and Wendy Brooks, of the Dean Court, wrote that they were "reeling with shock" at his death, before paying tribute to "one of the nicest men we ever knew and a favourite with every member of staff".

"For us he was the beginning of our day; a cheerful, witty and lovely person who started everyone off as they came into work with a warm greeting and twinkle in his eye."

A sports enthusiast, Bert enjoyed golf and was a member of Allerthorpe Golf Club. He captained Kirkbymoorside Golf Club when the family lived in Pickering in the 1980s. He was also a popular figure at the Village Inn in Wilberfoss.

Eric Rowley, the licensee, told the Evening Press that news of Bert's death had come as "an awful shock".

"It was a very sad day," he said. "Bert played for the darts team and filled in on the dominoes team when we were short. He was such a wonderful character. He was very popular; he always had a good word for everybody.

"He really was a super guy. He will be sorely missed by all his friends in the Village Inn, and our heart goes out to the family."

Updated: 10:45 Thursday, January 13, 2005