A ‘LARGER than life’ ambulance worker who saved thousands of lives has passed away after battling cancer.

Father-of-three Nick Vannozzi headed up the South Central Ambulance Service’s (SCAS) Bicester control room.

The 49-year-old grandfather-of-two from Bodicote, near Banbury, was diagnosed with lung cancer in August and, despite intensive chemotherapy treatment, died in Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury, on April 16.

David Williams, SCAS’s head of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire operations, said since Mr Vannozzi joined the ambulance service in 1986, he had saved ‘thousands of lives’.

He remembered Mr Vannozzi as someone who refused to give in, adding: “Even when he was undergoing chemo and then experimental drug trials which had some unpleasant side-effects, Nick bore his illness with aplomb, a smile and a cheery grin.

“He set himself targets – Christmas, birthdays, including his own 50th – but as they looked increasingly unlikely, he continued to remain positive.

“Nick was always approachable and always had time for a kind word or offer of support, regardless of rank or position. He had a knack for either summing up any given situation accurately, or talking the leg off a donkey.

“Nick had a superb, very dry, wicked sense of humour, was a natural charmer and was more popular with more people than most of us could ever wish to be.”

Mr Vannozzi’s widow, Alli Vannozzi, paid tribute to her beloved “larger than life” husband.

She said: “We have been together for 19 years and would have been married 16 years this September.

“Nick was wonderful, very loving.

“All of the tributes to him from his many friends on Facebook put it best. They say he was full of integrity, with an infectious smile and sense of humour.”

He leaves three grown-up children – Gemma, 27, Natalie, 25, and Daniel, 24.

A funeral and celebration of Mr Vannozzi’s life will be held on Thursday at Bodicote Parish Church.

Mr Williams said there would be a full ambulance service guard of honour.

He added: “One of Nick’s favourite sayings – and he had a few – was when something happened of which he approved.

“He would then utter, in his best ‘Oxon-boy’ accent, the immortal ‘Beauuddiful’ – something we will always remember fondly.

“If you were on a night out, stuck in a lift, on a lads’ weekend, at a Christmas do, at a party, wanted to speak to someone in confidence about anything, or needed someone to take charge in any given situation, there was one person you wanted to see. Nick Vannozzi.

“What we do for ourselves dies with us, what we do for others lives forever.”

A collection has been set up in aid of the SCAS League of Friends and Katharine House Hospice. Donations to J&M Humphris Funeral Services, Albert St, Banbury OX16 5DG 01295 265424 or jm-humphris.co.uk