MORE than 150 people gathered yesterday for the funeral of former Lord Mayor of Oxford Bill Baker.

The long-serving city councillor, right, died aged 78 on January 20, following a long illness, and his funeral was held at St Mary’s Church, Iffley.

His coffin was carried into the church by his three sons Paul, Mark and Adam, and his grandsons.

A Labour city councillor from 1986 to 2006, Mr Baker, who lived in Meadow Lane, off Donnington Bridge Road, with wife Vicky, became Lord Mayor of Oxford in 1997 and awarded the Freedom of the City to Nelson Mandela.

City council leader Bob Price, who gave a eulogy, said: “He looked after the people of the Donnington estate with great determination.”