Former Antiques Roadshow expert David Mason, whose wife and daughter have both had kidney transplants, has helped organise a fundraising campaign for an Oxford transplant centre.

The centre at the Churchill Hospital, in Headington, will replace the existing centre which has outgrown its facilities. Staff want the new building to be double the size, and have enough room to house researchers who are based at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Transplant surgeons joined hospital workers, supporters and patients at a golf tournament and auction, at Frilford Heath, near Abingdon, on Friday, to start the fundraising campaign.

The official launch of the 106-bed Oxford Children's Hospital was held the day before.

Hundreds of people, from school pupils to business leaders, have already agreed to back a fundraising campaign for the £20m state-of-the-art children's hospital at the JR.

Art dealer Mr Mason enlisted the help of comedian Bob Monkhouse and Sotheby's senior director, Lord Poltimore, at the golf tournament and dinner.

In the past two years, Mr Mason has had a double share of experience at the transplant centre, where his wife Vicky, 61, and daughter Louise Medus, 39, have both been treated.

Mrs Medus, who was born with no limbs due to the drug Thalidomide, was the first thalidomide victim to have a transplant.

Mr Mason said: "She's had a pretty rough life already, but to have this on top was pretty horrendous. It was probably one of the most difficult transplants they have ever done at the unit.

"Raising money for the campaign is the least I can do. It really is a centre of excellence."