Geoffrey Gambrill feeding the pigeons as they flock to his wheelchair Picture Ref: 20430-19A WELL-KNOWN Swindon fundraiser has died after a ten-year battle with prostate cancer.

Geoffrey Gambrill, one of the town's most high profile poppy sellers, died in his sleep on Monday, aged 80.

Although he was wheelchair-bound for years as the result of arthritis, he could often be found sitting outside McIlroy's, which used to be in Regents Street, collecting for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.

The RAF veteran would play 1940s music on a portable stereo to entertain shoppers while he collected.

As well as raising thousands of pounds for the Poppy Appeal, he also brought in the cash through collections for the Royal Air Force's Association Wings Appeal.

His son-in-law Michael Williams, 53, said: "He'll be missed by everyone who was used to seeing him in his buggy with its canopy.

"He used to go to Woolworth's every day and then he would feed the pigeons by the cenotaph and remember his comrades from the war.

"He must have raised £15,000 which, considering he had asthma and arthritis, as well as prostate cancer, is amazing."

Mr Gambrill served as a leading aircraftsman in World War Two.

He was a tail-gunner on Lancaster bombing missions, before becoming a despatch rider with 139 Squadron in Brussels.

In 1991 he told the Advertiser: "We fought for freedom. If we had not there would be a Nazi flag over the town hall.

He said while he was out collecting, an 18-year-old had shaken his hand and thanked him, saying he was Jewish and would not be alive if it were not for people like Mr Gambrill.

Alan Baker, the Poppy Appeal organiser for Swindon branch of the Royal British Legion, said: "He will be badly missed. He was a great character and he did a lot of hard work for us, as well as being a good friend."

Mr Baker's predecessor Fred Ferris, Swindon's town crier, said: "Geoffrey raised money for this, that and everything.

"I remember him going about town in his wheelchair with 'Geoff' written on it. The pigeons would wait for him to arrive."

Bob Curzon, the honorary Wings Appeal organiser at the Swindon branch of RAFA, said: "The year after he retired our street collection looked very woeful indeed.

Mr Gambrill leaves a widow, Nancy, 80, two daughters, Susan and Gillian, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral will take place at Wroughton Parish Church on Wednesday at 1pm.

Dave Andrew