A devoted father stabbed to death on board a train had been on his way to London to celebrate his birthday with his 14-year-old son, his family revealed today.

Lee Pomeroy, would have been 52 yesterday, but died on Friday afternoon when he was stabbed in the neck during a brief argument with a fellow passenger on a train in Surrey.

Mr Pomeroy, an IT consultant, who lived with his wife, Svetlana, and teenage son in Guildford, was described as an honourable man who was always willing to help those in trouble.

In a statement, his devastated family said: “Lee took his son on a trip to London hoping to spend some quality time with him which was cut short by an horrific and pointless attack.

The statement went on: “Lee would have had his birthday today but did not get to see his presents. He was an honest, bright person, who loved music very much, he knew history and art and he was a bachelor of science in Maths.