Funds are being raised in memory of a true Morecambe legend who worked the doors of the town for more than 30 years.
Adrian ‘Buzz’ Busby, who passed away suddenly on January 20 aged 53, was described as “one of a kind” and “a loyal friend to everyone he knew”.
Buzz was well-known and well-respected as a doorman at venues all over the district.
Local singer Melanie Horabin, who has set up a fundraising page for Buzz's family, said he was "a very loved man and he was one of the most wonderful human beings that I had the privilege to know".
Buzz was born in Burnley in 1968 and came to Morecambe in 1982, attending Ripley school in Lancaster.
He met his future wife Joanne in 1985 when he was nearly 16 and she was 14.
“He literally was the love of my life and I knew from when I was 14, that I would marry him one day," said Joanne.
“We dated for a while and parted, and married other people, and had three children each - Adrian’s are Samantha, Ryan and Daisy, and mine are Elise, Emillie and Evie.
“We suddenly went to a combined family of eight when I moved back to Morecambe in 2004 and we married in 2007."
The couple also had nine grandchildren, Lillie, Lola, Jack, Ruby, Ivie, Laila, Hunter, Ollie and Tommie.
Buzz began his life on the doors of Morecambe and Lancaster when he started at the King's Arms, on Morecambe seafront, at the age of 18.
He went on to work at many of Morecambe's best-known venues, including The Carleton, the Ranch House, The Exchange, the Royal, Pacha’s and Charleston’s, as well as the Blob Shop in Lancaster (now the Borough).
He also did security work at Cartmel Races, and numerous Morecambe festivals and outdoor concerts in the Bay Arena.
Buzz remained a regular in The Exchange on Regent Road after retiring from door work a few years ago.
Licensees Rob and Debbie Ellershaw – who also formerly ran the Ranch House in Morecambe - said he was "a true friend".
“We’re still trying to wrap our heads around the fact that he’s no longer here with us.
“We all knew how respected and well thought of he was in the local community.
“The sad truth, though, that we’ve got to learn to accept, is that he’s not going to walk through the door again with his big grin to straight away ask: ‘How are you, kid?’
“He entered the doors back at the Ranch House, following in the footsteps of his best pal Jimmy Taylor to come and work for us.
“He left not as a doorman, but as a true friend.”
Buzz also loved his music – particularly ska and especially Madness.
There was a big turnout in his memory when local ska group The Reggie Mental Band played at the Kings Arms in Morecambe on Saturday night.
In a statement on their Facebook page, the band said Buzz was “a larger-than-life character with an infectious sense of humour and a loyal friend to everyone he knew”.
Buzz also played football for numerous pubs in Morecambe and Bolton-le-Sands, and finished up playing for a veterans’ team called Morecambe Gold.
After retiring from door security work aged 50, he went on to work for Morrison’s home delivery, for Catlows on White Lund delivering coal and gas bottles, and also as a driver for Gizmo’s Pizzeria on Albert Road in the West End.
A tribute on the Gizmo’s Facebook page described him as “one of a kind”.
“Adrian Busby was a very loyal customer for as long as we can remember, who in recent years became a part of our Gizmo’s team.
“Above all, Buzz was a friend to us. We will miss him dearly and have been deeply saddened by this awful news.
“Buzz was a good man, with a very kind heart and a story for every occasion.”
His funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday February 4) at Lancaster Crematorium at 10.30am, followed by a gathering for family and friends at The Carleton from noon until late.
The Go Fund Me page in his honour is called ‘For the Love of Buzz'.
“Buzz was always there for us; it would be a wonderful tribute to him to help his wife at this uncertain and very painful time," said Melanie Horabin on the page.
At time of writing, more than £600 had been raised in donations in less than 24 hours.
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