Tributes have been paid to commemorate one of Brighton's most active and colourful community members.

Bruce Avis died aged 84 after living a life full of experiences and achievements.

He opened Westdene School in Bankside, Brighton, and headed many clubs and charities across Sussex.

His family have described him as "one of nature's true gentlemen"

and "the last of a generation".

Mr Avis, a keen actor and lover of the arts, joined The Sussex Playwrights Club in 1939 when he was 16 and a student at Vardean Grammar School.

During his time at the club he supported his friend Enid Bagnold, from Rottingdean, with her play Lottie Dundas, which eventually made it on to the West End stage.

Mr Avis served in the Air Force during the Second World War and afterwards trained as a teacher at a college in Folkestone, Kent.

Derek Ashcroft, 83, from Shoreham, met Bruce in Folkestone.

He said: "We had a brilliant time producing and acting in plays while we were there.

"When the course finished, Bruce persuaded me to come back to Brighton with him because he knew there was a job available at Varndean.

"We had fun as young men in Brighton.

"He introduced me to the arts scene and told me about his times on the stage at the Theatre Royal as a teenager.

"He was one of those men who loved making friends.

"His address book was huge and he always had friends wanting to meet up with him."

Mr Avis opened Westdene School in 1961 and was the first headmaster there until he retired in 1982.

Mr Ashcroft said: "But it was actually after his retirement that he was busier than ever.

"He became interested in film and music and as ever, threw himself into it."

Jim Heath, 62, friend of Mr Avis' for 35 years, said: "He was very proud of Brighton's film heritage.

Some of the first silent movies made in this country were created in Brighton and he would remind people of that."

During the Eighties Mr Avis lectured at the British Film Institute, became secretary of the Sussex Film Society and became a member of the Brighton and Hove Philharmonic Circle.

But his interests and support was not confined to the arts.

Mr Avis suffered from problems with his hearing so he became involved with the Diocesan Association for the Deaf.

He was also a well-known Lay Reader at the churches of St Augustine, Christ the King in Christ Church and St Bartholomew's Church in Brighton.

Mr Avis was born at 21 Crescent Road, Brighton, and lived there his whole life.

He never married or had children but had a large group of friends around him at all times.

Even in his old age Mr Avis had a group of five bachelor friends who travelled together around Europe watching operas, especially those written by Benjamin Britten and Wagner.

Mr Avis asked for a message to be given to the staff at the Millenium Ward at the Royal Sussex Hospital to say he had nothing but praise for them. He said they had made the final days of his life very comfortable.