Dr Robert Lyall Lucas MBE, a Fellow of Oxford University’s Keble College, and curator of the University Parks for many years, has died aged 81.

Born in Bedford on February 20, 1927, Dr Lucas died on January 5.

He attended Bedford School before becoming an undergraduate at Oxford University’s New College, where he was awarded a first class honours degree.

He was a postgraduate at Kings College, Cambridge, where he met Pamela Widdowson. They married in 1952.

He came to Oxford as a demonstrator at the Department of Agriculture in 1952, and in 1955 became a lecturer in Agriculture at New College.

From 1965 to 1975, he was a senior research fellow at Keble College and in 1975 became a tutor at the college.

He taught plant sciences, was an expert on fungi and a keen botanist.

For many years, Dr Lucas was based in the Department of Agriculture and Forest Sciences in Parks Road.

From 1981 to 1990, he was Chairman of University of Oxford Delegacy of Local Examinations and Oxford International Assessment Services Ltd.

He was also group controller of the UK Warning and Monitoring Organisation (UKWMO), which monitored the nuclear threat.

In 1969, he got an MBE for this work and was involved in the UKWMO for more than 25 years.

In 1962, when nuclear missiles were pointing at the USA from Cuba, the UKWMO team were on full alert.

Once a month, countrywide exercises took place with the UKWMO team going underground for 24 hours.

They worked closely with the Royal Observer Corps, and his daughter, Mary Anne, was an active ROC member for several years.

Dr Lucas was curator of the University Parks from the early 1970s to about 1995, and Lucas Walk in the parks is named after him.

He was also a member of the University Air Squadron, and an active member of St Nicolas Church, Old Marston for more than 45 years.

He leaves a widow, a son, a daughter and five grandchildren.