MIKE Taylor, head porter at Oxford University’s Brasenose College, has died aged 65.

As one of the ‘Guardians of the Gates’, he was well known and highly regarded within the university family, yet remained firmly Town all his life.

Born in 1945 in Wallingford, he grew up in Sunningwell, near Abingdon, attended Oxford Boys School, and was an active member of Sunningwell Cricket Club for many years.

He worked as an electrician and tower crane operator, during which time he helped to build the Westgate Centre and many of the newer university buildings.

He was also spent time working as a lorry driver and transport manager for Federal Express.

In the 1980s, he started a walking tour business in Oxford, sparking his fascination with the history of the city.

Then, in 1992, he realised a mid-life ambition by joining Brasenose as a porter, before being appointed head porter three years later.

He was often the first point of contact academics and visitors had with the university – and his wry humour, cutting put-downs and sense of responsibility earned him reputation, affection and notoriety.

He championed student welfare and safety, successfully campaigning for security cameras and lighting to be installed in Brasenose Lane in the late 1990s.

During his time at the college, he met many world leaders and celebrities – and was able to boast of cameo TV and movie roles in episodes of Inspector Morse, Silent Witness and even a recent Bollywood film.

As a regular contributor to the Oxford Mail letters pages, his observations on life were witty, controversial and never dull.

He was a prolific gardener, a regular competitor in the Oxford in Bloom competition, and the family home in Observatory Street was a focal point in the area.

His speciality was fuchsias – he grew more than 100 different varieties – and he was writing a book about the flower when he died.

In a 2005 interview for Oxford Today, the Oxford University alumni magazine, he wrote: “A porter is in a job, a head porter is in a way of life.”

Mr Taylor, who died on June 8, leaves a wife, two children and a granddaughter.

His funeral was held at Brasenose College Chapel on Wednesday last week, followed by a burial service at Wolvercote Cemetery.