FORMER Banbury mayor and well-known businessman Jim Vine has died at the age of 86.

Mr Vine had spent the last year of his life at Galanos House, a Royal British Legion care home in Southam.

He will be remembered for his sporting achievements, business ventures, and campaigning exploits as a Banbury town and Cherwell district councillor.

Mr Vine burst onto the Banbury business scene in the early 1960s when he launched a taxi service and the first-ever service station and car sales showroom in the Southam Road. He also ran the Vinex Oil Company, distributing central heating fuel to local homes. Mr Vine opened the town's first nightspot the Rally Club in Cherwell Street. It was the forerunner of many clubs in the town and still holds fond memories for those who enjoyed late-night music, dancing, and drinking in the 60s and 70s.

After the Rally Club era, Mr Vine moved to Woodford Halse where he ran the Winston pub.

In his younger days he played rugby and cricket for Banbury, and later, was a competitive rally driver. He competed in numerous events, including the 1965 RAC International Rally of Great Britain.

Mr Vine was a long-time supporter of the Royal British Legion and was president of the Woodford Halse branch.

It was that 'never say die' attitude that highlighted Mr Vine's years as a councillor.

It will be in that role, as a champion of good causes, that Mr Vine will be most remembered.

Without him, the Britannia Road Family Centre would probably have closed. In fact. Mr Vine only stood for election as a councillor so that he could fight for the centre "from the inside".

He organised campaigns and protests when the centre was under threat from budget cuts, and used his own money to finance bus trips to County Hall, Oxford, for banner-waving demonstrations.

Mr Vine was elected town mayor in 2001, and at the time described it as the proudest moment of his life.

Despite failing health, he carried out more than 300 engagements, and made many new friends.

The effort of fulfilling the mayoral programme took its toll on Mr Vine's health, however, and after his year in office he was unable to continue his council work.

His daughter, Kim Shaw, said: "We will miss him so much. He led such a full life and was a wonderful character."

Mr Vine's funeral will be at St Mary's Church, Banbury, at 1.30pm on Saturday. He will be buried in Southam Road Cemetery.