Brian Stubbings has been honoured posthumously for giving the ultimate gift of life through organ donation.

His organs, including his heart, liver and kidneys, have saved and improved the lives of five people since he died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage in February.

On Monday his wife Jo Stubbings, with whom he would have celebrated 20 years of marriage this year, was presented with one of the first awards introduced by the Order of St John and NHS Blood and Transplant.

Mrs Stubbings, 45, of Canterbury Street, Chippenham, said she suggested her husband join the donor register because: “He was great at helping people so this was a natural extension of that.

“It happened so suddenly, nothing anyone could have predicted, and it was such an awful thing, having something positive coming out of it makes such a difference.”

Mr Stubbings was well-liked as solutions delivery manager at Schneider Electric on Langley Road, Chippen-ham. His legacy also remains in the rally days at Castle Combe, which he founded with his friend Darren Frow, and which is being carried on by him and Mrs Stubbings.

She said: “When we were 26 a friend of ours was killed in a road accident. He realised then life was short. He was always active and wanting to experience things and sometimes that drove me a bit mad as I just wanted to curl up with a book but I’m really glad, looking back, that he absolutely made the most of every minute.

“He packed a lot into those 46 years. We had some great holidays in the States and Peru.”

Mrs Stubbings, a cashier at Lloyds Bank, Calne, has received letters and cards from the people helped by her husband. She said: “They say they can’t thank me enough and appreciate how hard the decision must have been, but want me to know what a difference it has made to them and their families. It is bittersweet.”

She was presented with the award from the Order of St John and NHS Blood and Transplant, by Wiltshire’s High Sheriff William Wyldbore-Smith, at a private award ceremony held at St John Ambulance county headquarters in Devizes.

Explorer David Hempleman-Adams, a trustee of the Order of St John, said: “With thousands of people in the UK in need of a transplant, we felt it was important to say thank you to the families whose loved ones have already donated their organs.

“These families are an inspiration to all. With around three people dying every day due to the shortage of organs, we hope these families’ pride will encourage many more to follow in their footsteps and agree to become an organ donor.”

To join the NHS organ donor register, visit www.

organdonation.nhs.uk, call 0300 123 2323 or text SAVE to 62323.