A 77-year-old Tesco employee who has worked at the Dedworth branch since it opened has asked colleagues and customers for a unique retirement gift.

Tom Greenaway has asked them to make a contribution to the Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service charity which is about to formally open its new children's hospice in Maidenhead.

Mr Greenaway, who lives in Stockdales Road, Eton Wick, laughed as he explained to the Observer: "I do have a pipe dream about going under the Arctic Ocean but that is never going to happen.

"Otherwise I don't want anything so I thought I would ask people to contribute to the hospice rather than me."

The Devine charity which has worked for a decade to raise the money for the hospice was founded by Dedworth couple John and Fiona Devine in memory of their son Alexander.

Mrs Devine who shops at Tesco said: "Everyone knows Tom. His catchphrase is 'how are you today, I'm wonderful'.

"He is just the sort of quirky tradesman every community needs.

"He reads about the charity in the paper and always used to ask me how it was going. I had no idea he was going to do this for us."

Mr Greenaway is going to be missed in Dedworth. He began at Tesco making deliveries but has been the man organising the trolleys for many years now.

He cheerfully admits he is not technical - he does not even have a television. So when Tracy Fallis, the checkout manager at Tesco heard about Tom's plan she set up a Just Giving page for his colleagues and customers to donate to.

Colleagues including store manager Joe Pothecary all rallied round.

As he returned to Tesco for the last time this week to see former colleagues Nina Matthews and Satvir Lallh who are receiving 25 year long service awards, customers beamed and called out 'we will miss you Tom'.

Mrs Devine presented Joe with a 'thank-you' card made specially by children who are day patients at the new hospice which formally opens soon.

It is hoped the Just Giving page will raise at least £500 but potentially it could be much more.

You can contribute by visiting http://www.justgiving.com/Tracy-Fallis