Between the revving engines and bright orange shirts, a legend took his last ride at Carlisle Crematorium.

A beloved friend and family man, ‘Dangerous’ Dean Anderson lived his life at 100mph and, from racing on two wheels to becoming a waterski champion, he was cherished.

Dozens of messages have been left from across the county with memories and well wishes for the champion following his death.

Living life in the fast lane, he went out on a high and made his final journey by motorbike.

The funeral cortege arrived just after 11am yesterday, where a BMW motorbike attached a trailer ready to head to Carlisle Crematorium.

The procession saw bikers follow the coffin, all wearing bright orange – the same colour as his coffin.

Between the revving engines and bright orange shirts, a legend took his last ride at Carlisle Crematorium.

A beloved friend and family man, ‘Dangerous’ Dean Anderson lived his life at 100mph and, from racing on two wheels to becoming a waterski champion, he was cherished.

Dozens of messages have been left from across the county with memories and well wishes for the champion following his death.

Living life in the fast lane, he went out on a high and made his final journey by motorbike.

The funeral cortege arrived just after 11am yesterday, where a BMW motorbike attached a trailer ready to head to Carlisle Crematorium.

The procession saw bikers follow the coffin, all wearing bright orange – the same colour as his coffin.

The lead rider joked that he tried to get him to 100mph one final time.

Mr Anderson sadly died on Sunday, October 4 and messages have flooded in since with condolences.

During his lifetime he made many friends in the racing world and his wife Susan said: “Anyone who came across him knew he was never going to grow old gracefully.

“'Dangerous' Dean was a real action man and made an impact on everyone he met. It’s not an exaggeration to say he made the most of his 54 years and leaves an absolute chasm behind.

“The list of the activities he threw himself into would fill several lifetimes.

“Growing up he spent a lot of time around boats and became British F3 Water Ski Champion but, Dean being Dean, didn’t just concentrate on water skiing; he was also proficient on a wakeboard, kneeboard, and barefoot skiing. Being on the water was a passion that continued throughout his life and a few years ago he mastered the air chair."

As he entered the crematorium, Pink's Get The Party Started played and the pallbearers prepared to walk the candy orange coffin in for the service, memories and stories were traded.

Susan said: “One Sunday the air chair was responsible for one of his many trips to A and E where he was diagnosed with a fractured leg and compartmental syndrome.

“He was advised to rest the leg, keep it elevated and stay off work.

"Monday morning he went to work as usual hauling himself into his truck and spending the day driving.

“Another time he broke his heel bone when his power kite lifted him 20 feet in the air and dumped him unceremoniously down to earth.

“He didn’t bother seeking medical attention, just limped about for a few weeks.

“Another time he ended up in A and E was when he was diving and managed to lose the boat.

“His dives were always longer than anyone else and when he surfaced the boat was nowhere to be seen. After some time a helicopter appeared and a winchman was lowered down to the floating Dean."

Mr Anderson declined to ditch his expensive kit to be winched up.

The larger-than-life character was remembered fondly at his funeral as stories were shared of a life well lived and a man who had made an impression on many over the years in so many walks of life.

The News & Star attended Mr Anderson's funeral with the permission of his family.