A respected musician from Wheatley, near Oxford, has died.

Don Lewis, of Farm Close Road, Wheatley, died last month aged 84.

He was born and grew up in Southampton, and came to Oxford in 1940 to work in the Pressed Steel Company, in Cowley.

As a boy he was taught piano and was active in a church choir.

On moving to Oxford in 1940, he began conducting the Chinnor Silver Band and later the Pressed Steel Works Band.

Mr Lewis achieved a Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music in London in 1951. He became chairman of the Oxfordshire and District Brass Bands Association when it was most active in Oxfordshire, representing 25 bands and organising many concerts and contests in the area.

He was an engineering estimator and worked in a number of positions at Pressed Steel, while leading the work's band.

Ron Sudworth, a fellow band member, said: "His experience as a musician was broader than most. He was an accomplished accompanist to vocal and instrumental soloists.

"This along with his happy personality led to great respect from distinguished local musicians."

Mr Lewis' band played at his funeral, which was held at the Oxford Crematorium in March.