The man whose dedication and determination led to Windsor's much loved hospice being built has died aged 93.

Doctor Douglas Denny was a mechanical engineer who rose to become Managing Director of the aviation division of Bestobell on Slough Trading Estate, helping equip famous planes of the era including Concorde.

His involvement with plans for a hospice in Windsor began when he retired. Alongside his late wife Pauline he led the fund raising which finally saw the purchase of Pine Lodge in Hatch Lane and the establishment there of the Thames Valley Hospice opened by the Queen in 1987.

It has flourished ever since, merging with the Paul Bevan Cancer Foundation to become Thames Hospice 13 years ago.

Doctor Denny and his wife made an unstoppable team. This week their son Michael - who became a well known Windsor GP - explained how they met.

He said: "It happened when my grandfather advertised for a lodger and my mother answered. She was planning to go to Australia soon to work as a midwife. Instead she married my father."

The couple had four children - Michael, John, Paul and Anna.

The family lived in Stoke Poges.

Doctor Denny also leaves seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

His death at St David's Nursing Home, Ascot on May 16 comes as the hospice he helped build gets ready to expand onto a larger site at Bray.

The hospice's chief executive Debbie Raven said: "We were very sad to hear about Doctor Denny's death. He was an inspirational man and there is no doubt that without him Thames Hospice would not be here today. We in the community have a lot to thank him for."

Doctor Denny's funeral takes place tomorrow (Thursday) at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, Lower Britwell Road, Burnham at 11.30am.