MOURNERS have been urged to contribute funds to the cash-stricken Harefield Hospital after the recent death of a much loved local figure.

Patrick Joseph Cleary, 83, had been given just six months to live after being diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago, but his family credit Harefield Hospital, near Uxbridge, with helping his fight the disease.

Mr Cleary died at his Prestwood home, Mason Close, on Saturday, surrounded by his beloved family and his daughter, Marian Anstiss, said he would be sorely missed.

She added: "He was a lovely man, and the tributes have not stopped flowing in since his death. He will be sadly missed by a lot of people. His family has always been number one for him all through his life."

She said staff at Harefield Hospital had very helpful and urged people to support the hospital, which is in danger of closing because of plans to centralise services at Paddington.

Mr Cleary joined the army when he was 17, and travelled to Palestine and India in an effort to support his family as work was scarce in Ireland during the depression.

He met his wife, Mary, 78, when she was just 15 and working as a nanny for a family in Ireland, and the couple were featured in The Bucks Free Press after their diamond wedding celebrations in 1999.

Mr Cleary moved to Prestwood in 1965 and worked for the Wren Davis dairy in Great Missenden after serving for 12 years in the Irish army and six in the RAF.

The funeral service will take place on Thursday morning at the Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church, in High Street, Great Missenden with the cortege leaving Prestwood at 11.45am.

If anyone would like to donate money to Harefield Hospital, call 01494 472572