A MUM-OF-TWO from York who died in a motorbike accident has been described as “inspirational, upbeat and loving”.

Amanda Heather McNichol, 49, was on holiday on the Isle Of Man with her husband, childhood sweetheart Philip, when the bike they were riding hit a grass verge. Amanda fell into the road, where she was struck by another passing motorbike.

Amanda’s daughter, Samantha, said that, despite her loss, her family and friends felt “lucky” that she had been part of their lives. She said their mother had made her and her brother David the people they were.

Samantha, 22, said her parents, who met in their teens, had always loved the outdoors and had a passion for motorbikes. Philip had been a fan since he was 17 and Amanda rode as his pillion passenger.

“It was a hobby they enjoyed together, and they often went on day trips with friends and fellow enthusiasts,” she said.

The couple were four days into a holiday with friends, ahead of the island’s famous TT Festival, when the accident happened on May 30 on the Mountain Road, near a roadside marker called the 32nd Milestone.

Samantha said she had been told her father had seen two bikes approaching quickly in his wing mirror and veered slightly as he tried to let them pass, hitting the verge.

Samantha said: “Although this is one of the most unlucky things which could have happened, people can have parents for a lifetime and not feel an ounce of what we had. She made us the people we are and gave us the strength in her lifetime to continue without her now she is gone.

“Our family are so close, and because of that I have no regrets. There was never a cross word and we would often tell each other that we all love one another, and still do.”

She said: “My brother, David, described it best – he said we are just lucky, really.”

Samantha said her mother was “the centre of the family” and “the core which held us all together”, and said her death had devastated relatives and friends. “It has just not sunk in yet,” she said.

“It is a massive loss – we all depended on her so much. She gave everything to everybody and was somebody who put others first. I have never met anybody as selfless as my mum.

“She was such an inspiration. If I could fill half of one of her shoes, I would be pleased. She was always buzzing around, keeping active, smiling and happy. She was just an upbeat person and I would be surprised to find somebody who could find a bad word to say about her.”

Last month’s trip was Philip and Amanda’s first to the Isle of Man.

They wanted to see the bikes and workshops during training week ahead of the TT races and explore the countryside before large crowds gathered. They were holidaying with friends and arrived on the Saturday, but tragedy struck on the Wednesday.

Amanda was a self-employed cleaner. She regularly went on caravan holidays with Philip and their dog, Max, whom she adored.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned and Amanda’s funeral, which will be a celebration of her life, will be held at 11.40am on July 2 at York Crematorium. There will be no dress code and family flowers only.