Tributes have been paid to an 80-year-old man who died in a crash on the A4130 near Nettlebed.

The family of Percy Raby, who died following the collision on Tuesday, February 2, today released a tribute.

They said: “Percy was due to celebrate his 81st birthday in two weeks' time.

"He was a man who maximised his life in enjoying his surroundings and family. Father of Jenny, his only child, sadly had been widowed from his wife Miriam a year ago. He has two grandchildren, Dean and Lisa, who promoted him in keeping young at heart. He maintained daily interest in their achievements and encouraged them to succeed.

“Before retirement he worked for Barnardos in Wokingham as a handyman driver, where he gained pride and great satisfaction in helping the children and staff of such a good cause.

"Percy was a man who loved the outdoor life, a keen gardener keeping his 240ft garden well stocked with fresh vegetables.

"His passion of the country came at an early age when he farmed with cart horses, and later became a sports grounds man at a local private boarding school.

“To keep nimble and social, Percy went swimming up to three times a week in Henley, where he had grown a large number of friends over the years, one of his most prided achievements as a grandfather is that he taught both his grandchildren to swim with confidence.

"In his later years Percy found a fascinating interest for modern gadgets, his mobile phone became his main breakthrough learning new text words, you would have thought that he was 70 years younger, he used this daily to keep in touch with immediate friends and family. “Taken away from us so suddenly while he was able bodied and beginning to rebuild his life without a partner, has been so tragic for his loved ones. We are missing him already and we never forget the love and role model in life that he so naturally was.”

Anyone with any information about the collision, which occurred at about 7.35pm on the A4130, is asked to contact PC Andy Wickens at Abingdon Roads Policing base via 0845 8 505 505.

If you don’t want to talk to police or leave your name, contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.