Today is 66 years on from the iconic moment that Sir Roger Bannister ran a mile less than four minutes.

The legendary runner, whose name is synonymous with Oxford, secured himself a place in history when he achieved the feat in three minutes and 59.3 seconds at the Iffley Road track on May 6, 1954.

Sir Roger went on to become a leading neurologist and worked across the country - but, wherever he was, he always maintained a close connection to the city of dreaming spires.

Figures from the worlds of sport, politics and education have paid their respects to the sporting icon, after he died at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

A statement from his family said: “Sir Roger died peacefully in Oxford on Saturday surrounded by his family who were as loved by him as he was loved by them. He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends.”

Many of the tributes have noted the significant place Sir Roger held in the hearts of people in Oxford.

Leader of Oxford City Council Susan Brown said: “In Oxford we are very proud of Sir Roger’s amazing achievement that took place in our city.

“His distinguished career in medicine ultimately brought him back to Oxford as head of Pembroke College.

“Sir Roger holds a very special place in the hearts of people across the country who celebrated his sporting success and admired his contributions to society through medicine and his support of other sportsmen and women.”

Roger Gilbert Bannister was born on March 23, 1929, in Harrow, Middlesex.

He went to Oxford to studied medicine before going on to St Mary’s Medical College.

Sir Roger took up athletics while in Oxford but only found half an hour a day to run and did not consider it a long-term pursuit.

He was chosen to represent Britain in the Olympics at Helsinki where he finished fourth in the 1500m final in 1952.

Then in 1954, helped by pacemakers Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, he made record books with his sub four-minute mile on what is now known as the Roger Bannister running track.

Leader of Oxfordshire County Council Ian Hudspeth said: “It was a fantastic achievement and it’s even more amazing that he did it without modern equipment.

“I was privileged to meet him on a couple of occasions and he was a real gentleman – very humble and modest. Even though he achieved such greatness he didn’t seem to flaunt it.”

In the same year he retired from athletics and went on to become a consultant neurologist and later master at Pembroke College.

He always stressed the importance of his medical achievements, including his major contribution to the field of autonomic failure, over his sporting successes.

Sir Roger also maintained an involvement with Oxford University.

Vice-chancellor Professor Louise Richardson said: “Sir Roger epitomised what it means to be a living legend.

“He was a regular presence at university events and remained committed to Oxford University to the end, engaging with students, challenging academics, and inspiring all of us."

Sir Roger was was knighted in 1975 and made a Companion of Honour in the 2017 New Year’s Honours.

In the build up to the London Olympics in 2012, he carried the Olympic torch around the same track he broke the record.

Bob Price, the former leader of Oxford City Council – and a runner himself – said Sir Roger always kept an eye on Oxford.

Sir Roger himself said the city was the ‘centre of his life’ for many years.

Mr Price said: “Sir Roger was an icon of modern British sport and the four-minute mile was first achieved in Oxford.

“He always retained an interest in the city and what was happening in Oxford.”