Brighton and Hove Buses driver Chris Turnham laid to rest

The popular Brighton and Hove Buses employee died last month after falling ill with coronavirus.

The 58-year-old was a popular figure who drove the 28 and 29 routes, working with the company for 17 years.

He was also a long-standing Unite workplace representative "dedicated' to looking after his colleagues.

Drivers, colleagues and friends gathered at the depot on Lewes Road wearing multi-coloured clothes and holding rainbow flags in remembrance of the LGBTQ champion.

Buses leaving the depot in Lewes Road

The heavy midday traffic in the city street was stopped as his coffin was driven into the gated workplace he had been a part of for almost two decades.

Remembering Chris, operations manager Paul Harding said he will be a "great loss' to the community and the company.

He said: "He was a very well respected, much-loved colleague. He was always there for people and very well respected.

"He put others first but I always found him to be helpful and level-headed. Just a joy really.

"He will be a great loss. If the lockdown wasn't in place this funeral would be massive."

The hearse left the depot at 12.15pm and made its way to the crematorium with a small congregation of family and friends following behind.

Flags and tributes hung on the depot gate

In a touching tribute from his long-standing employer, a version of the Haka was performed as staff applauded the Kiwi leaving the site one final time.

The congregation was followed by two double-decker buses draped in matching rainbow flags, that displayed "RIP Chris Turnham" on the front.

The pair drove in formation with their hazard lights on, in one final salute to the former driver.

A minute's silence was held across the company at 12.30 as the funeral service began.

In a statement at the time of his death, Chris’s family said his death has left them with a "huge hole" in their hearts.

It read: "We are devastated at the passing of our much-loved son, brother and uncle Christopher.

"He was a truly caring and gentle soul who was loved by so many.

“We are left with a huge hole in our hearts, life will never be the same without him.

"We do not wish the pain we are feeling to be inflicted upon any other families. Please, we implore you, follow the guidelines and wear a mask at all times.”

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Unite said there is no indication of where Christopher came into contact with the virus.

The union also made clear that Brighton and Hove Buses have been working with Unite throughout the pandemic to ensure that its buses, depots and other workplaces are as Covid secure as possible.

Unite regional officer Phil Silkstone said: “Chris was a well-loved and respected driver and Unite workplace representative at Brighton and Hove Buses and he will be terribly missed.

“Unite has been working with the company throughout this crisis to make the workplace as safe as possible and there is no indication of where Chris came into contact with the virus.

"However, this tragic loss highlights the need for everyone to play their part in defending against the spread of this invisible and indiscriminate killer.

“Social distancing and mask wearing is particularly crucial for our bus drivers and other key workers, who, like Chris, dutifully put themselves and their families at risk every day to keep our communities running."