THE son of a popular Oxford bus driver who died when his car overturned has paid tribute to his "hero" dad.

Just hours before his death, Simon Mildren was helping to ice his grandson's cake ready for his fourth birthday party.

The 52-year-old went for a run on The Ridgeway in Wantage with his dogs on Friday and while driving home, lost control of his grey Toyota which rolled down Chain Hill shortly after 7.30am.

Tributes have also been paid to the grandfather-of-two, who drove the 900 Park and Ride hospital service, by regular passengers who said they would greatly miss his "joy and passion" for life.

Did you know Simon? Pay your tribute here 

His wife Juanita, who he was married to for 31 years and is a bus driver for Oxford Bus Company, said she would always love him and "missed him dearly."

Son Tony, a chef at the BMW Mini Plant in Cowley, said: "He was my hero - the strongest person I knew.

"Whatever he did he became extremely good at it almost straight away.

"The tributes have meant a lot - one of dad's passengers actually found me on Facebook just to tell me what a lovely man he was."

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His 28-year-old son, who lives in Wantage, added: "Everything he did he gave 110 per cent and he was good at everything.

"Dancing has been one of his major passions over the last few years and he loves baking and also running."

The father of Mr Mildren's two grandchildren, Travis John, 4, and Kerensa-Lily, 2, said he would cherish a particularly poignant final encounter with the father he loved dearly.

He said: "He came home from work quite late and I was still up finishing the cake for my son Travis John's birthday.

"I did the blue icing and he did the red icing and we were there until about 1am.

"I think he was more excited about the party than anyone else. He loved baking and he had made loads of carrot cake cup cakes for it."

He added: "I'm going to cherish that sort of moment, I miss him already."

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Tributes paid to Simon Mildren

The Cornwall-born man, who also had a daughter called Stacey, served in the Royal Corps of Transport, based mainly in Germany, for 24 years before moving to Grove in 1997.

Mr Mildren rapidly became a popular figure in the town, coaching Grove Rugby Club and being a regular member at local dance group Jive Temptation.

Prior to becoming a bus driver, he was a chef at The Boar's Head, - which featured in the AA Food Guide within a year of his arrival.

One of his passengers Karen Russell, who works in accounts for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "I am in shock and very saddened to hear of his death.

"A colleague and I were only speaking to him a few days ago on his bus, he seemed like a man who lived life to the fullest and talked with great joy and passion about the love that he had for dancing and baking for which he gave me some tips."

Those who knew him through his job as a bus driver, his hobby as a dancer and even his time growing up in Cornwall have been in touch with the Oxford Mail to pay their tributes. 

Another passenger, Gill Griffin, said: "Such a lovely man, he liked to show of his dance moves while his bus waited at our terminus, he certainly made a very tedious bus journey more pleasant with his smile. 

"I feel very sad for this family's loss."

Jon North, who knew him from his time at Grove Rugby Club, said: "He was one of the first people I met when I joined Grove RFC, an absolute gentleman, always welcoming and friendly. 

"I remember him refereeing a local Derby Grove V Harwell and he called both sets of forwards over before kick off and said "if you boys want to fight get it over with in the first five minutes and then we can have a proper game of rugby" we did and we had a great game always a big smile and would stop for a chat.

"He will be greatly missed my thoughts are with the family."

The family said the police had told them it's possible Mr Mildren had a heart attack while driving home, his car rolled down the hill onto the bank and flipped over.

He was pronounced dead at the roadside.