Father-of-one Darren Sparkes, of Maldon Court, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, on the A134 at Chilton, on Saturday.

He was travelling towards Sudbury on a black Honda when he collided with a Mitsubishi 4x4, just after 7pm.

Parents Brian and Paula this week told of the shock at learning of the accident and their memories of a kind-hearted son.

"He was so good-natured," said Mrs Sparkes. "He was very laid-back, almost horizontal, but he cared about a lot of people.

"He was 28 years old and six feet tall but he will always be our baby because he was the youngest of three children. I always called him my baby."

Mr Sparkes added: "He was not the best timekeeper in the world because he was so laid-back, but he would help anyone."

The couple revealed how they heard of their son's crash from one of his friends.

"We got a call to say there had been an accident and at first I thought he had been hit coming out of a junction," Mrs Sparkes said. "I wanted to get up there but I called the police and they told me they would come to me.

"We heard a helicopter overhead and thought there might be a chance and he was being taken to hospital.

"But the police came and asked if he had piercings and tattoos and that's when we knew."

Mrs Sparkes described Darren – who has a seven-year-old son Reece – as a "fair-weather" motorcycle rider.

"He only bought the bike last year and passed his test in September," she said. "He only went out on it when the weather was good, like Saturday.

"He had just had a new tyre fitted and was on his way home from visiting a friend in Ipswich.

"He was coming home because one of his friends was not feeling very well and he had promised to go round and drop off some biscuits.

"That is the sort of person he was. He would do anything for anybody."
Darren grew up in Cross Street, Sudbury, and went to Great Cornard Upper School, where he had "many friends".

When he left school, in 1996, he travelled to Dunblane, Scotland, to present a cheque to the people of the town after he had organised a sponsored wall-climb at school in the aftermath of the school massacre.

"It had a big effect on him," Mrs Sparkes said.

He trained as an electrician and was working as an aerial erector for Nayland firm Sound and Vision.

His parents say he could not wait for Sundays when he would spend the day with Reece.

Friends of Darren at the Rose and Crown, in Great Horkesley, are organising a collection in his memory.

His funeral will be at Long Melford Church, on Thursday, at 10.30am.
"We want everyone who knew Darren to come," said Mrs Sparkes. "And we don't want people to think they have to wear black. It will be a celebration of his life."

The A134 was closed for five hours following the accident.
Police are asking for witnesses to call Pc John Wilson, at Suffolk roads policing unit, on 01473 613500.

If you knew Darren and would like to pay your own tribute to him, email ryan.goad@sudburytoday.co.uk or write to Ryan Goad, Suffolk Free Press, Borehamgate, Sudbury, CO10 2EE. You can also leave a comment on this story at our website.

n Tribute to Darren –
"My best friend Darren.
Life will not be the same without you. You made my life so happy, we had some laughs and so much fun and I have some great memories.
Without a doubt the most loving, caring, generous man I ever met.
We miss you so much.
Best friends forever and ever.
All our love, Ria, Megan and Ryan xxx
Ria Gardiner"