A TEENAGE girl was “treated like royalty” by chauffeur Maurice Abrahams as he drove her to her prom.

Eleanor Curtis said sitting in the back of the Daimler with her friends Zoe Stoner and Elysia Wild in June was “the best part of the prom” and a moment they will all remember.

The girls were dressed like princesses and Mr Abrahams treated them as such when he took them to the celebration in Alfriston as a favour to Miss Curtis’ parents, who were family friends.

The 16-year-old, of Woodingdean, said: “We had a really good laugh in the car. He was so welcoming and treated us like royalty.

“He was so nice about it all. We were smiling for the whole journey. All our other friends were watching and admiring the car as we arrived.

“My friends and I talk about it a lot – it was definitely the best moment of the prom.”

The 76-year-old Woodingdean wedding chauffeur, former police officer, ex-paratrooper, Grenadier Guard and community stalwart died in the Shoreham Airshow tragedy on his way to pick up bride-to-be Rebecca Sheen, of Goring, on Saturday.

Former Lewes Priory student Miss Curtis said she was devastated when she heard he had died.

She added: “It was just horrible and so sad.”

Miss Curtis’ mother Ann Townsend, who owns a photography business with her husband Bob Curtis, met Mr Abrahams at the weddings they worked at.

She said: “Bob and Maurice go back decades, I think we have known him for more than 20 years.

“As we got to know him better he helped to decorate our house and often used to bring around items for my husband. I said we couldn’t take them but he would sneak them in.

“He had a wicked sense of humour. He used to have us in stitches.

“He also took my other daughter Isabelle to her prom in 2010 as a favour to us. Both my daughters absolutely loved it. He used to put the back of the car down and get them to sit on the top for a photo.”

He also offered his car and his time to help Rottingdean-based wedding dress designer Elif Köse and Hove-based professional photographer Lynda Kelly with a photo shoot.

Mrs Köse, 31, of Saltdean, said: “Maurice used to come into my alterations shop and I would fix his chauffeur uniforms.

“We used to have a chat – he would always make me laugh.

“He told me he had always wanted to be in a photo shoot and showed me a picture of his car.

“I was heartbroken when I heard what happened.”

Mrs Kelly said: “He dressed the part and surprised us with a bottle of bubbly to add to the photos. He could not have been more helpful. It was a lovely sunny day so he took the roof down and drove us around the country roads in Glynde looking for the right location to get the right shot. It was Maurice who made it a very special day for everyone.

“May there be someone waiting to hold open the door for you now Maurice.”

Tributes have also continued to pour in from the brides he took to their weddings.

Liz Harman told how he battled the crowds of Rottingdean Fair on August 5, 1989, to get her to her wedding at St Margaret’s Church on time.

Mrs Harman, who was living in Glynde but got ready for her wedding at a friend’s house in Rottingdean, said: “I was excited and eager to get to the church so I said ‘let’s go now’ and he helped us into a beautiful black 1937 Austin York and set off from the top of West Street.

“On the way we were spotted by some friends who hadn’t yet got to the church so Maurice slowed down to allow them to get there before us.

“The area in front of the church was packed. Maurice took no notice of it all. To him, myself and my dad were the most important people. We caused quite a stir arriving at the church as the car was so beautiful and regal.

“As he climbed out of the car in his smart chauffeur suit and hat, and opened the door, everyone was watching him and waving. He wished us luck and helped organise my train for the photographer as we posed for photos.”

In later years Mrs Harman and her sister-in-law opened a wedding dress shop in Woodingdean and hosted a fair at the primary school, where Mr Abrahams offered to help by bringing his Daimler.

She said: “He happily allowed photographs of our models with his car.

“He was always there bright and early directing the cars onto the school field and collecting the money.”

The couple, who emigrated to New Zealand seven years ago, visited Mr Abrahams in April on a trip to a family wedding.

Mrs Harman said: “He was pleased to see us as we were him and we had a cuppa in his kitchen and reminisced, little knowing it would be the last time. We are so glad we had that time. He was still the same Mo - laughing and joking and being cheeky.”

Lesley Ford, née Carpenter, 56, of Portslade, married Glenn, 58, at St Nicholas Church, on July 17, 2015. She said she will never forget the part Mr Abrahams played in the wedding.

She said: “He was such a caring, loving guy. He was joking the whole time and had such a good sense of humour. He made you feel like you had known him for years. He gave the bridesmaids chocolates and made the day so special.

“He was even giving the photographer advice on how to take the pictures. He had that integrity, it touched my heart.

“Those memories will stay in my heart forever. He made my wedding day.”

The tributes follow many others sent to The Argus over the last few days. Among the other brides sending their memories of Mr Abrahams was Natalie Baker, 21, of Sompting.

She said he took her to one side before she walked down the aisle and said “live life to the full. Never let anything stop you.”

Carly Sayce, 32, who was born in Brighton before moving to Seaford, said she would always remember how he appeared “out of nowhere” with a bottle of water as she was about to enter the church.