A long-serving Kidlington parish councillor who wrote and produced an ambitious stage history of the village has died.

Joy Masefield, who lived in Kidlington for 26 years, served on the parish council for 18 years and Cherwell District Council for three. In May 1971, she was elected Kidlington Parish Council's first female chairman.

In September 1966, Mrs Masefield used a £60 budget to stage an outdoor performance of the history of Kidlington in the grounds of St Mary's Church. Following this success, Mrs Masefield created Archway Productions with the help of Gyles Brandreth, who later became a well-known writer and MP.

After university, Mrs Masefield became a secretary at the BBC and made notes on every play the radio network broadcast.

After moving to Uganda with husband Geoffrey, she returned to England in 1948 and settled in Kidlington with her family.