A father-of-two collapsed and died while walking home from the pub in Rottingdean.

Lee Whyte, 43, was found lying in a flower bed outside Rottingdean Village Hall, in Park Road, at around 1pm on Monday. Paramedics were called but Mr Whyte was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends said Mr Whyte had visited Ye Olde Black Horse in High Street, Rottingdean, earlier in the day. Although he had recently moved from the village to nearby Ovingdean, Mr Whyte often went to the pub and was also a regular at The Plough in Vicarage Lane, Rottingdean.

Yesterday residents in the village expressed their shock and sadness at Mr Whyte’s sudden death. Lauren Doidge, a bar supervisor at The Plough, said: “He was a lovely guy. It’s very sad. He was just always happy and was a good laugh.

“He was everyone’s friend and had no enemies.”

Friend Paul Turner, 60, from Rottingdean, said: “He was a very well educated, charming man. He had a helpful way about him and was very proud of the degrees he had managed to get. He was very well-loved.

“The news has come as a tremendous shock to all of us. He was a lovely bloke and had lots of friends around here.2 Niall Carson, 40, who lives in Hove, had been friends with Mr Whyte for more than 15 years. He said: “He was just a happy bloke and was also very generous. I worked with him for a few years and he was a nice relaxed boss.

“He could turn his hand to everything and could solve most problems. He was really caring and funny and had a good quick mind.

“I don’t know anyone who didn’t like him he always had time for people. We will miss him lots.”

Mr Whyte leaves his wife Gaynor and children Billy and Georgie. He had run a Eurostar holidays tour company with his wife.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “His death is not being treated as suspicious.”

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