TRIBUTES have been paid to a "hugely respected" bus enthusiast who dedicated his life to making travel better for passengers.

Julian Osborne died of a cardiac arrest while travelling on a bus last month aged 63 and will be remembered in a private memorial for family and friends.

The former bus conductor was a tireless campaigner for better customer service. His fascination with buses began as a young boy. Born in Worthing on January 27, 1952, he travelled by bus to Worthing High School for Boys and began to note down the details.

He worked for Brighton and Hove Buses as a conductor before he went to university and continued during holidays from Keble College Oxford, where he later graduated with a BA in Geography in 1974.

He then joined the British Airports Authority, and became a member of the Institute of Personnel Management in 1976 before working at British Airways in 1978 for 23 years and moving to Guildford.

He retired aged 50 and returned to his hobby, joining Bus Users UK, Bus Appeals Body, and operators including National Express and Abellio. He was known for his regular column about customer service for Buses magazine and his experiences as a conductor were mentioned in a book he penned about the Southdown Queen Mary buses.

Sue, his wife of 27 years, said: "He was a loving husband and father who was very intelligent and loved travel and developing minds - he taught us all to question life and of course he will be very much missed. He was a keen photographer and has taken many photos around the world in support of his bus enthusiasm and travel interests."

He also leaves behind their two children, Sarah 26 and Tim 23.

Roger French, the former managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, said working closely with Mr Osborne for two years on the Bus Appeals Body was a "pleasure."

He said: "Julian's interest and knowledge about buses not only in Sussex but all over the country and abroad was amazing.

"He had a deep affection for the former Southdown and Brighton, Hove and District bus companies. During my time at Brighton and Hove we always took heed of the feedback he often gave us after he'd travelled around the area on trips to the coast from his home. He was always very thoughtful and had a wonderful sense of humour.

"He was a great advocate for the passenger and took the trouble to diligently pursue any injustices they may have suffered by unfair dealings from bus companies. He'll be much missed and was hugely respected throughout the bus industry locally and nationally. My condolences go to his wife and family."