A CHEQUE and self-portrait of a long-serving Rotarian who was rescued during the St Asaph floods has been presented to a hospice.

Ronald Organ, known to his friends as Ron, died on June 19. The artist and sculptor, 88, who had daughter Sue, had a private funeral.

Mr Organ, an avid fundraiser for Children's hospice Ty Gobaith, was rescued by boat and lost a number of treasured paintings during the floods in 2011.

In 2014, he was honoured for his work by Peter King, president of the rotary international in Great Britain and Ireland.

A cheque for £620 has now been donated in Ron's memory to Luned Yaxley, fundraiser at Ty Gobaith, by St Asaph Rotary Club.

A self-portrait of Ron was also presented.

Tom Yuille, of St Asaph Rotary Club who had known Ron for 34 years, said: "I didn't know him well until about 10 years ago. He was first and foremost an artist and he was passionate about art.

"He was very enthusiastic about the rotary and did the art work on our floats for 30 years. In later years, he used his paintings and the books he had written to raise hundreds of pounds for the hospice.

"Ron was eccentric and could be pretty obstinate, but he was good company and loved storytelling.

"I guess he didn't want a [public] funeral because he didn't want people being maudlin when he knew it was time for him to go. It was just the sort of thing that he would do."

The grandfather was described as a great storyteller. He was devoted to his art; one of his circus-themed paintings was purchased by the son of circus owner Billy Smart.

Mr Organ had been single for about 40 years following his divorce. He lived in St Asaph from the age of 10 when he arrived as a refugee.

Christopher Smith, also a member of St Asaph Rotary Club, added: "He often brought his art to the rotary club. He enjoyed entertaining - he would bring his ukulele. He came alive in front of audiences.

"He had many friends in the shooting fraternity - he had worked in the arcade, circus, entertainment area but his profession was a sign-writer.

"He was a Liverpool supporter and had many anecdotes about being evacuated to North Wales during world war two, but the stories were occasionally mythical."

Mr Organ was "deeply affected" by the St Asaph floods.

Following the incident, he didn't feel he would be able to paint again but his mindset changed when the circus came to Rhyl in 2015.

He became captivated by circus’s principal clown Nicolino and painted his portrait.