A man so dedicated to working in the community that he continued for 14 years after surviving a kidney transplant has died, aged 68.

Denis Cashmanwas a former Bicester scout leader, first aid trainer and volunteer driver for the town's day centre.

His wife Kathleen said he was determined to serve the community despite battling ill health for many years.

She said her husband would fundraise for the British Red Cross and Bicester's Church of the Immaculate Conception while wired up to dialysis machines at home.

Mr Cashman moved to Bicester from Guildford in 1966, when he took up a post at the town's Ministry of Defence depot.

He was active with St John Ambulance from the age of 13, until retiring due to ill-health in 1976.

He joined the Scout Association and received his first warrant in 1967, as an assistant cub scout leader for the Nelson Pack at the 1st Bicester Scout Group. When he retired from Scouting in 1986 he was presented with the Silver Acorn award.

The father-of-one, who was a committed Catholic, was also awarded the British Red Cross Badge of Honour for Devoted Service in April 2003.

In May this year, Bicester Town Council honoured him with a Good Citizen Award.

Mrs Cashman said: "He never gave up, everything was a challenge.

"Since he had the transplant in 1992 he was determined to get back into the community and serve people.

"He would sit on the dialysis machine folding counter foils for raffle tickets from the church."

Mr Cashman passed away peacefully at his home in Langford Gardens on September 29.

His funeral was held in Bicester last week.

Mr Cashman is also survived by a son, Andrew, and daughter-in-law, Samantha, who live near Aylesbury.