A WELL-KNOWN Bicester man who devoted his life to community work has died, at 68.

Denis Cashman was 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 kidney problems 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.

And she said after receiving a kidney transplant in 1992, Mr Cashman threw himself even further into his community work - becoming a qualified first aid trainer and teaching courses at Bicester Adult Education Centre and local youth groups.

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.

And when he retired from Scouting in 1986 after holding various posts in the organisation, 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 and a Good Citizen Award by Bicester Town Council in May this year.

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

Mr Cashman passed away peacefully his home in Langford Gardens on September 29. His funeral was held in Bicester last Tuesday. Mr Cashman leaves behind a son, Andrew.