The founder of an award-winning coach company has died.

Peter O’Neill started the Gillingham-based Kings Ferry coach company with just one 11-seat Dormobile minibus in 1968.

By the time he sold the Eastcourt Lane business to the National Express company in 2007, it had a fleet of almost 90 vehicles and a turnover of £11million.

Mr O’Neill passed away just before Christmas, on December 23, after a short battle with cancer.

The son of an Irish labourer - also called Peter O’Neill - he developed a love for coaches early in life, travelling to Brighton by bicycle to attend the first UK Coach Rally in Brighton in 1959.

After starting life as an apprentice at a paper mill, and then doing a bread round, he went into business for himself at the age of 24.

His first vehicle cost him £70 and his job was transporting his local dart team to an away match - for a £3 hire.

He intended to call the business Pete’s Coaches, but his wife, Carol, persuaded him that a more upmarket name was needed - and the Kings Ferry Charter Coach Company was born, with the name inspired by the Kingsferry Bridge that connects the Isle of Sheppey to the mainland.

The couple had two children, Steve and Vanessa, both of whom later joined him in the business.

Over the years, the firm, based first at the garden of his home in Lidsing and later at Pump Lane in Gillingham, was to specialise in offering commuter services, primarily from the Medway Towns, to London, as an alternative to train travel, but it also had many other strings to its bow.

In the 1970s, it supplied the coaches for the pop stars of the day to tour with - boasting Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd and Elton John among its patrons.

For most of his 39 years as chairman, during which Kings Ferry was named coach operator of the year on several occasions, Mr O’Neill remained the company’s sole owner, only turning it into a limited company shortly before its purchase by National Express.

Roger Davies is a former director of operations at Maidstone and District bus company, running the Invicta commuter services to London, and he knew Mr O’Neill well.

Mr Davies said: "The Kings Ferry was a highly respected coach operator.

“When it entered the London commuter market in the early ‘80s, Pete brought his expertise in providing high-quality vehicles to this rapidly expanding market.

“We all upped our game as a result, to the benefit of the many thousands of people who used them.

“I had huge respect for Pete as a businessman. He was also great company and I was fortunate to count him as a close friend."

Mr O’Neill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carol, children Steve and Vanessa, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

His funeral will be at Vinters Park Crematorium in Maidstone on Tuesday, January 28 at 2pm.

Family flowers only, with donations please to the Heart of Kent Hospice.