A DEDICATED fundraiser, who helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to improve services for Gwent patients, has died after a long illness.

Bill Hobbs MBE, of Birch Grove, Llanmartin, is described by those who knew him as a man "in love with life".

Though he suffered heart and spine problems from an early age and later battled with leukaemia, he never lost his zest and enthusiasm for living. According to his wife of 53 years, Margaret, it just made him more grateful and eager to "give something back".

Born on June 10, 1925, in his grandmother's fish and chip shop in Crown Bridge, Sabastpool, Bill Hobbs was a pub landlord and newsagent before ill health forced him to retire.

But never one to stand still - after undergoing heart surgery in 1980 and 1983 he wanted to say thank you so put on a dance with the aim of raising £1,000 for the hospital that treated him.

From there he went on to set up the first local branch of the British Heart Foundation in South Wales and later the Royal Gwent and St Woolos Hospitals Cardiology Fund.

Since then, the fund has raised more than £750,000 through events such as its annual fun run and cycle rides, Christmas bazaars, golf tournaments, and raffles. And in 1994 his dedication to charity was even recognised by the Queen with an MBE.

Josie Brett, one of the fund's organisers, said: "It's safe to say that without him, there wouldn't have been a fund."

Money raised for the fund has helped provide a cardiac catheterisation suite at the Royal Gwent, as well as blood pressure machines, heart monitors and tilt beds which have helped reduce waiting times for vital tests.

Mrs Hobbs said: "It's a comfort to know that he still lives on through the fund.

"Bill was a strong, beautiful and loving man, always generous with his heart, time and soul. Everyone who met him fell under his spell. "He loved to travel, garden and spend time with his family. We feel blessed to have had such a wonderful husband, father and grandfather." Mr Hobbs leaves his wife, Margaret, two children, Carl and Lesley and three grandchildren, Victoria, Mark and William.

His funeral takes place today at Underwood Baptist Church at 2.15pm.