A grieving daughter is raising cash for a bench near the town’s taxi rank in memory of her father “the best taxi driver in Witney”.

Donald Johns lost a four-year battle with cancer on Tuesday October 12.

His daughter, Verity Luckett, has received over 200 messages praising her dad did for what he did for the community.

Donald started work at Angie’s Taxi’s in 1985, although he worked for different firms over the years.

Verity said: “But one thing they all had in common is that everyone loved Donald.”

She added: “Four years and 10 months ago, Donald was given the devasting news that he was suffering with advanced cancer. The doctors gave him 12 – 18 months, but Donald took no notice of that, he vowed he was going to fight this dreadful disease all the way….and he did… in fact, Donald was incredible and a real inspiration to everyone around him.

“After spending five days at the Katharine House Hospice where the staff couldn’t do enough for Donald, he died very peacefully and with dignity knowing he was loved by you all.”

For the 38 years he was a Witney taxi driver Donald was well known for enjoying a cup of coffee and tapping his pipe out on the pavement at the taxi rank.

“People would look on the Taxi rank for Don's Taxi and would not travel in anyone else’s as they respected and trusted Donald so much,” said Verity who lives in Ducklington. “People have said they would wave other taxis on while waiting for Donald to pull up.

"Donald was so much more than a taxi driver, not only was he so knowledgeable when it came to the roads in our county, he was also trustworthy.

"He took the time to help everyone he could, you would find him cutting someone’s grass or not only driving someone home from shopping, but actually taking the shopping in and putting it away... "

Comments from some of the letters Verity has received include: "A memory of Donald who I got to know a few years back…if it rained and snowed, he was the top of the taxi number to call and always turned up with a smile, a true gent and always had them cans of cola in the boot, sleep well and thanks Donald."

And in a letter from a customer/friend: "He took me on a 20-mile chase in a ‘follow that taxi!’ scenario from Oxford to Freeland, so I could try and rekindle a relationship with my girlfriend at the time. He wouldn’t let me pay as he could see I was gutted. Thanks, Don, for being a legend in more ways than one! PS. I got over her."

Other customers wrote: "I loved that every now and again you would bring Carol with you to pick me up because you both loved my dogs so much. I would even bring one in the taxi with me.

"I have so many happy memories of you, you would offer to look after both of my sons just so that I could nip in the shop without having to get the pushchair out of the taxi. The boys loved that you made them laugh so much, you would even play hide and seek with them, I remember their little faces laughing so much.

"On the way home we would stop at the local shop because I would say that I had forgotten something but really, I wanted to buy you a paper and a packet of biscuits just to say thank you for just being you."

West Oxfordshire District Council has confirmed that plans for a bench are being finalised and it should be installed in six to eight weeks.

Verity said: “If any money is left over from my appeal I would like to give it to Katherine House Hospice who cared for dad in his last days.”