THE family of a late Horspath man say he would have “been in his element” at fundraising events being held in his memory.

Tony Richards, a self-employed builder, died in February last year, aged 55, leaving wife Sue and daughters Ali, Clare and Kate.

More than 800 people attended his funeral.

Since then, his family and friends have raised more than £9,700 for a clinic in Sri Lanka and to help three-year-old Horspath girl Charlotte Nott, who had part of her limbs amputated to save her from meningitis.

Mrs Richards said: “Tony was one of those people who just got on with everyone, no matter whether they were a king or a pauper.

“People came to his funeral from all over the world, there were family, friends, colleagues and people he had played football with.

“I told the man at the crematorium there would be lots of people, but I’m not sure he believed me, as every widow thinks their husband was the best person in the world.

“Afterwards, he found me and said ‘you were right’. There was just a sea of black.”

Instead of flowers, the family asked for donations towards the Wegagampita Clinic in Colombo, Sri Lanka, which was opened on Friday.

It was a place close to the family’s hearts, as they had visited the country twice.

The first time, Mr Richards bought a boat for four local fishermen they met.

And on the second occasion, he narrowly avoided drowning in the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

He was washed out to sea twice, but managed to survive by clinging to debris.

Mrs Richards said: “I nearly got him drowned for a suitcase. We were at breakfast in our hotel and the staff were telling us to leave.

“I told him to go and get our suitcase from the room. But he was washed away when he opened the door and he was hit by a fridge.

“We had no idea until he came strolling up to us, dripping wet and covered in mud.”

Earlier this month, about 200 of Mr Richards’s friends attended a ball in his memory and raised £4,280. The money will be shared between the clinic and a fund to help Charlotte Nott.

Other events held since Mr Richards’s death had already raised £5,500 for the clinic.

Mrs Richards said: “He would have loved the ball, he would have been in his element.

“We lost our five-year-old son Paul in a road accident years ago and ever since, we made sure we lived life to the full.”

Daughter Clare, 18, a pupil at Wheatley Park School, added: “He was the best dad in the world. He was generous, funny, kind and caring.”