Tributes to 'salt of the earth' man who dedicated his life to helping others

Tributes have poured in for a 'one in a million' man who dedicated his life to helping others, following his tragic death from cancer.

Oscar Brogden was somewhat of a local celebrity in Manchester and was known for his many acts of kindness - which included a huge Christmas toy appeal for less fortunate kids.

Alongside his work as a security guard at Manchester city council's street cleaning depot in Gorton, he also reunited over 900 people with lost purses or wallets, and repaired damaged bicycles left for scrap and donated them to the community for free.

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He made a name for himself after appearing on the hit Channel 4 show, the Secret Millionaire, and touched the lives of everyone he met.

Oscar was diagnosed with cancer around three years ago, and underwent successful treatment. But close friend, Helen Coverdale, said he contacted her in January to let her know it had returned and he wouldn't be having treatment.

He passed away peacefully at a nursing home in Newton Heath on April 11 at the age of 71.

Helen, who was first introduced to Oscar after watching him on the show, The Secret Millionaire, described her friend as a 'lovely man' who dedicated his life to helping people.

"I kept in touch with him when I could and over the years we'd lose touch but it wouldn't matter, we'd always help each other," she said, speaking to the M.E.N.

"He was diagnosed with cancer about two or three years ago and had treatment which worked. But he contacted me in January saying the cancer had returned and he wasn't going to have treatment, and wanted to die without pain.

"Oscar was absolutely crackers and had the biggest personality. He had such a zest for