TRIBUTES have been paid to a vicar and loving family man who died after falling on a bus.

Rev Michael Buckley, 70, from Longridge, was injured after falling on a stairway on the No1 Longridge to Preston service, around 9.55am on December 10.

Rev Buckley suffered a head injury and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he died on December 18.

He leaves his wife Ruth, four children – Rachel, Katie, Peter and Anna – and six grandchildren – Eliza, Edward, Henry, Louie, Max and Penelope.

In a tribute, Rev Buckley’s family said: “Michael Buckley was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.

“A retired clergyman, he was an active member of St Michael’s Grimsargh and St Lawrence with St Paul, Longridge, and a lifelong supporter of Southport Football Club.”

Rev Buckley, who was born in Southport, completed his ordination training at St John’s College, Durham.

He became a team vicar at St Peter’s Maghull in Liverpool, before serving as the vicar of St John’s Earlestown, and Team Rector at St Mary’s Great Sankey.

Speaking at his funeral, Rev Mike Barton who is the present vicar of St Lawrence with St Paul, said: “Michael’s passion was always preaching Jesus and he had a great love for sharing the bible in innovative and accessible ways; once when he was preaching on Easter day he jumped out of the pulpit and did somersaults down the central aisle.

“His point was not to show off his athletic prowess but rather to prove that surprising things do happen, so that when congregation members went back to their friends to tell them what the vicar had done, even if their friends didn’t believe them, Michael’s congregation members who had witnessed it would know the truth.”

Rev Barton said Rev Buckley liked watching and riding on steam trains as a hobby and listening to a wide range of music. He also stayed up late watching Newsnight and Question Time and he liked to watch the classic slapstick comedies such as Fawlty Towers, Dad’s Army and Morecambe and Wise, Rev Barton added.

Police said an investigation into Rev Buckley’s death is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting log reference 0461 of December 10.