A much-loved dad-of-four has been described as a town “legend” following his death after a nine-year battle with a terminal lung condition.

Graeme Griffin, 55, from Beaver, Ashford, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2014 – with sufferers typically given just three to five years to live.

But the former taxi driver defied the odds to enjoy more precious time with his wife Donna and their four children.

Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring on the lungs, making it difficult to breathe, and Graeme was on oxygen 24 hours a day for the last two years of his life, but daughter Stacey said he would always seem to “bounce back”.

Childhood sweethearts Graeme and Donna, 53, started dating when she was 16 and they married in 1994, going on to have Stacey and three sons, Matt, Joe and Charlie.

Describing her husband as caring and funny, Donna said: “He was the life of the party and the legend of the town. If we went out and he couldn’t come, people would say it wouldn’t be the same without him.”

“We did everything together. He was so loved and a very supportive husband.”

Donna cared for her husband during his illness and says he was a fighter and stayed positive, even when he could not continue his hobbies, such as golf.

“We just had to take each day as it came but he never gave up,” she said.

“Even when the doctors would tell us they couldn’t do much more for him, he would always bounce back and I thought he would this time. I don’t know if it’s because he had every other time, or if it’s because I wanted to believe it.”

Stacey, 30, said she could talk to her dad about anything and he was especially good at telling typical ‘dad jokes’.

“We were very close, he would always help me and I was a daddy’s girl,” she said.

‘It makes me so proud as his wife reading all the positive comments from people...’

“He was so funny and always cracking jokes.

“He always seemed to bounce back too. One day he would be quite unwell and the next day he’d be fine, eating a korma.”

Graeme adored his big family and had four grandchildren who are Beau, Harry, Teddy and Rosie. During his last few days at the William Harvey Hospital was surrounded by his nearest and dearest before his death on October 23.

“There were 15 of us visiting him in hospital. The nurses said they’d not seen anything quite like it,” Donna recalled.

A Gofundme page has been set up to raise money towards Graeme’s funeral and his family, with almost £3,500 donated already, beating the £2,000 target.

“There was a £50 donation in the first few seconds, which amazed me,” Donna said.

“It’s incredible that we have already beaten the target. Anything we have left over will go towards his headstone.

“He was really well known, and on Facebook we have all shared tributes to him which have got hundreds of likes and comments.

“It makes me so proud as his wife reading all the positive comments.”

Donations can be made to Graeme’s fundraiser here.