TOM O'Brien, one of the few remaining bespoke tailors in the country, has died aged 92.

Tom lived at Greenway Road, Taunton, when one room was filled with his hundreds of dancing trophies.

He came from a humble background, born in County Tipperary in 1923 to a single mum whose family were not prepared to support her.

Tom was put into an orphanage after he was found wandering the street as an infant, where the nuns and monks taught him to sew.

He started as a tailor’s apprentice at 14, becoming a journeyman tailor and learning that his mother lived nearby, never venturing out of a nunnery.

He moved to England in the early 1950s, where he studied at Stockport College before moving to work in Buxton and Bristol, finally settling in Taunton in 1967, where he worked as a tailor for the police for 25 years.

Widowed at 62, Tom took up dancing with the Whitmore School of Dance, competing nationally and teaching youngsters into his 80s, even reaching the National Disco Championships in Blackpool at 75.

Tom, who enjoyed walking around Taunton, chatting to people, was still working as a retired tailor until shortly before his death.

He is remembered as a perfectionist in his trade and in everything he did, a smart, proud and brave man who took many risks in his life and was an inspiration, particularly to his family.

He leaves daughters Kathryn and Ann, seven grandchildren and great granddaughter Imogen, aged 17 months.

A celebration of Tom’s life is being held at St Andrew's Church, Taunton, on Monday, October 19 at 2pm. People are asked to wear joyful colours.