The chairman of Ipswich Transport Museum has died after a short illness.

Tony King died last Monday, September 2.

He was 73 and had been diagnosed with a brain tumour just four months before he died.

Leicestershire-born Mr King had lived at Capel St Mary in Suffolk in 1972. He took early retirement and was an active museum volunteer for more than 20 years.

He also a trustee and he succeeded Brian Dyes as chairman in 2005. Mr King retired in May 2013 following the diagnosis of his illness.

He played a major role in securing grant funding for and managing projects that led to the restoration of the museum’s buses and the recently unveiled Karrier trolleybus No. 105.

Current museum chairman Mark Smith said: “I had the privilege of knowing Tony for 20 years and my overriding memory is his consideration for other people.

“He was probably the most kind and thoughtful person I have known. Despite his onerous museum commitments he always made sure that this family, friends and other interests were not forgotten.”

Mr Smith added that Mr King was also a keen runner, enjoyed hiking in the UK’s mountain regions, and was enormously proud of his family.

He was also closely involved with Capel St Mary Methodist Church, and had many friends and colleagues in his interests outside the museum.

Mr King is survived by his wife Sue, whom he married in November 2012, and three sons from his first marriage, Stephen, Neil, and Andrew.

His first wife, Rita, pre-deceased him.

Would you like to pay tribute to Mr King? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email starnews@archant.co.uk