'He was one of the very best' - tributes paid to Doncaster bus worker who died of coronavirus

Moving tributes have been paid to a South Yorkshire bus worker who died of coronavirus.
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Neil Bailey was a popular member of staff at First South Yorkshire and more than 100 colleagues past and present paid tribute to him by observing a minute’s silence on Friday, April 24, as he was laid to rest in Doncaster.

Garry Birmingham, the bus operator’s managing director, said: “I was personally stunned and devastated when I heard the sad news about Neil, as were all his colleagues.

Neil Bailey, who worked for First South Yorkshire, died of coronavirus (pic: First South Yorkshire)Neil Bailey, who worked for First South Yorkshire, died of coronavirus (pic: First South Yorkshire)
Neil Bailey, who worked for First South Yorkshire, died of coronavirus (pic: First South Yorkshire)
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“Neil was such a genuinely nice person and key member of staff. He meant so much to many. His unflappable calm approach and can-do attitude will be irreplaceable; we will all miss his smile and his humour. My thoughts are with his wife and daughter at this time and all his colleagues at the depot and across the company.”

Mr Bailey was a staff manager at First and a deacon at St Peter-in-Chains Church in Doncaster.

A crowdfunding page set up to support his family has already raised more than £4,000, with donors describing how much he was loved.

“Neil was a great man, full of compassion and always the same,” said one former colleague.

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Other mourners remembered him as a ‘true gentleman’, an ‘amazing man’ and a ‘true friend’, who was ‘one of the best’ and had ‘a comical side to lighten any moment’.

His cousin Tara Ellen said: “Our Neil was the most genuine person you could ever wish to meet and I along with others will miss him dearly.”