A touching tribute has been paid to Bill Champion by his daughter Kathy Brown.

Bill, a former soldier who fought in World War II - serving in India and Burma - passed away on May 23 at the age of 100.

The well-known Tooting resident lived on Coteford Street for 60 years and was regularly seen selling poppies for the Royal British Legion outside Tooting Broadway train station after his two brothers died during the war.

In more recent years he has become something of a local celebrity, appearing on This Morning with Phil and Holly a few years ago for his charity work, as well as being nominated for the Pride of Britain award.

Now, in memory of the local legend, his daughter Kathy, 62, has asked for people to donate to the Royal British Legion in his memory, quoting 'a gift in memory of Bill Champion, 23/05/2021' by calling 0333 011 4500.

She said to Nub News : "If anyone wanted to make donations it should go to Royal British Legion as it was such a big part of his life.

"Dad went off to to the army and the Second World War in January 1941 and served in India and Burma and lost his brothers in the same year.

"He would come to Mitcham War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday every year and lay a poppy wreath for everyone who lost their lives in Burma.

"When I was younger he was quite big in the community and about 25 years ago he started poppy selling in Tooting station, which is where most people knew him from.

"He was so proud of his medals."

It wasn't just his dedication to charity or his work in the army that Kathy will remember him for though, as he was also a man who deeply cared for his family and especially his wife.

Kathy said: "He was a lovely dad.

"It was difficult as a working-class man with four children. There wasn't a lot of money, but we had a lovely mum and a lovely life.

"We had many happy holidays in the Isle of Wight and he loved his grandchildren.

"Mum passed away eight years ago and had dementia. She had a short time in a home and he did a wonderful job caring for her at home which kept her out of the home for much longer and that was down to him for the care he gave her."

Bill Champion will be cremated on Friday.

His wishes are for his and his wife's ashes to be put in the grave with his aunt and uncle who he lived with as a child in Wiltshire.

One of his brothers is also buried in the churchyard and his other brother is remembered on the village war memorial.

Anyone who wants to donate to the Royal British Legion can do so here.

Have a story in Tooting you'd like to share? Get in touch! Email [email protected], call 07557513104 or tweet @TommyJJourno [I]

[I] Find all the latest news from Tooting on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.