A PHILANTHROPIST who donated land for a sports centre and ambulance station in Oxfordshire has died aged 88.

John Greening’s donations helped establish Kidlington Ambulance Station and Abingdon’s football and athletics centre at Tilsley Park.

The park is named after his son, John Tilsley Greening, who died in a road accident in 1979.

The ambulance station land at Langford Lane was valued at £500,000 when it opened in 1993.

The millionaire benefactor also gave money to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, St Anne’s College and the Oxford Playhouse.

A £125,000 donation helped establish a science wing at Abingdon School. In 1992 Mr Greening was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his philanthropy and his 20 years of service as a welfare officer at the RAF Benevolent Fund.

John Nichols, divisional director of South Central Ambulance Service, said: “The ambulance station continues to provide best care for our patients in the local area and throughout Oxfordshire today.”

Born in 1921 in Radley, near Oxford, Mr Greening joined the RAF in 1940.

As the pilot of a Lancaster Bomber, he flew on raids over Germany and finished the war as a flight lieutenant.

Later he ran a mixed dairy and arable farm at Sunningwell for more than 30 years.

His son, Simon, 55, said: “I’m very proud of him.

“He was a very quiet, modest man. From the huge number of emails I’ve had, what stuck out the most is people thought he was a perfect gentleman.

“Tilsley Park was closest to his heart because it was named after my brother.

“The land was worth a lot of money and he gave it away for nothing because he very much wanted to give something back to the community.”

Mr Greening lived in Freeland, near Witney before moving to Cheltenham and then Torquay after the death of second wife Barbara. He died in Torquay on Friday, October 29, from a heart attack.

Abingdon School governor Richard Dick said: “It was always a pleasure to hear his enthusiasm for Abingdon. We will always be grateful for his generosity.”

Mr Greening is survived by one son and two grandchildren.

A memorial service is being planned in Freeland to celebrate his life.

  • See Thursday’s paper for a full obituary