Richard Allum, a lifelong member of the Labour Party who worked with the trade unions at the Cowley car factory over three decades, has died aged 81.

His son, Paul Allum, said: "Because he was there for so long he saw how much the industry changed — right through from when things were still being done by hand, to the more modern era with mechanical assembly. He was always amazed by this."

Deeply religious, Mr Allum also served as a governor at Plater College, the Catholic adult residential college in Headington.

His son said: "He devoted a lot of his life to helping other people, that was the sort of person he was.

"He was an incredibly kind and caring man."

Mr Allum passed away on Friday, October 3, in the Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading.

He was pre-deceased by his wife Madeleine and is survived by his three children and 10 grandchildren.

His funeral was at Our Lady and St John's Church in Goring on Tuesday.