A LOVING dad who underwent kidney dialysis for 37 years has died - but fought for every second of life right until the end.

Tony Ryan was diagnosed with chronic renal failure in 1971.

But he finally lost his battle with the kidney condition on Wednesday.

His daughter has paid tribute to a quiet, caring and remarkably brave' man who was an inspiration.

Tony, 61, of Drove Road, died at two minutes to midnight on Wednesday, surrounded by his family at the Great Western Hospital.

Proud daughter Claire said: "He fought to the end and was not going to give up without a fight.

"The fact that he even fought on to the close of the day was quite significant.

"I went on to the graveyard at sunrise and I knew he was up there with mum. It gave me comfort to know that mum and dad were together again."

Claire said that, despite her mother passing away in 2001, Tony, a long-term Swindon Town fan, never let his condition destroy his resolve.

"He was never a why me?' person and I never heard dad say he was in pain. Even though he had this illness it did not stop him living his life and working hard.

"I think he's an inspiration.

"He was a quiet man, but he would do anything to help anybody. Even up until the end he would be doing deeds to help others."

Tony, 61, had worked at Union Carbide, on Drakes Way, Swindon, and was put on dialysis five hours a day, three times a week, when medication failed to control his renal condition.

He was finally given a transplant in 1983 and a second transplant in 1988.

Claire said: "Though the kidney transplant gave him a new lease of life he never forgot that his joy was someone else's loss.

"He'd always think of that person and their family with special thanks."

Tony and his late wife Anne joined the Adver's campaign with the Swindon Kidney Patients Association to get a dialysis unit in Swindon. At the time dialysis patients had to go to Oxford for treatment.

In 2000 a temporary Swindon dialysis unit opened at the Railway Village - and was later moved to the Great Western Hospital.

"He fought on for everybody to get the kidney unit. He was happy to feel he was helping."

Claire remembers her dad as a devoted family man.

Landmark family events became very important to Tony as he fully appreciated the time he had.

Having been in intensive care during Claire's A-levels, he was proud to be there for her graduation from St Mary's University College in Twickenham.

"I knew that was a big thing for him because he didn't know if he'd be there to see it," she said.

"He managed to live his life to the full despite his illness."