A LEADING sportsman and former publican in Abingdon, Kenneth Kilbee, has died after a short illness. He was 77.

Mr Kilbee, of Baker Road, played football for Oxford City and captained Abingdon Town.

Mr Kilbee was a keen angler and pigeon fancier and raced his birds in England and abroad in national competitions, winning several trophies. Later he took up golf and was a member of Frilford Heath Golf Club for 30 years. He was a nine handicap player. He left Frilford and joined Drayton Park Golf Club where he played three or four times a week.

Mr Kilbee worked at the MG car factory in Abingdon but left in 1965 to run the old Red Lion pub (now demolished) in the Vineyard with his wife, Janet.

He is survived by his wife and two sons. His cremation will be at Oxford Crematorium on Tuesday at 12.45pm followed by a reception at Drayton Park Golf Club.