Tributes have been paid to a man who greeted thousands of patrons to an arts centre in the seventies and eighties.

Friends have spoken of their great sadness at the death of Robin Street, the former front-of-house manager of the Gardner Arts Centre at the University of Sussex.

Mr Street, who died in France on Friday, was well-known to the centre's many visitors during an era when it was the leading venue in Sussex.

Long-time colleague and friend Steve Pavey said: "He was a thoroughly nice man who everyone always warmed to quickly. He was a modest man, unassuming, charming, with a great sense of humour and a twinkle in his eye."

Mr Street died suddenly at the house in the Dordogne region he had moved to following his retirement in 2003. He was in his mid sixties.

Mr Pavey said his friend had always been a francophile and had dreamed of moving to France.

Mr Pavey, who was the university finance and business director, said: "We used to have offices next door to each other and I could hear him at lunchtimes sometimes having French lessons with a tutor. He worked very hard at it.

"He was very happy when he finally managed to move there. I spoke to him about a month ago and he was thoroughly enjoying himself. He loved the lifestyle and enjoyed the food and wine.

"The real tragedy is that he had wanted to move there for so long but was only there for just a few years."

Mr Street was raised in Sussex and lived for most of his life at his mother's home in Patcham. He has two sisters who live in Portslade and Hurstpierpoint. He was not married.

Photographer Tony Tree worked with him at the arts centre on many occasions. He said: "He was always energetic and enthusiastic about the theatre and professional about it as well.

"He used to greet people as they arrived at the centre and had a great genial presence which always passed across to the patrons."

Mr Street moved on from the centre in the eighties to take on another role at the university, guiding the development of student housing.

In the nineties he took up a new job, still at the university, as the Alumni development officer and took responsibility for building up links for former students.

He was a keen golfer who regularly played at the East Brighton Golf Club.

Pay your tributes to Mr Street below.