Former Oxford Lord Mayor Maureen Christian has died at the age of 82.

Maureen Lena Smith was born in 1926 in Seaham, County Durham, the only daughter of William and Hilda Smith.

During the Second World War her family was bombed out and moved to Scarborough, where she met her future husband Jack (John Wyrill Christian).

In July 1949, Mrs Christian and Jack married and Mrs Christian graduated in English from Durham University.

After their marriage, she moved to Oxford with Jack and took a diploma in education at Oxford University.

She taught English for many years at various schools, ending her teaching career with the Beechlawn Academy in Park Town.

The couple had three children; Louise, John and Timothy, who predeceased her in 1999.

Jack became a distinguished scientist, a Fellow of St Edmund Hall and professor of materials science at Oxford University.

One of Jack's students recalled how “Maureen was always the life of the party, talking about everything and anyone, not fazed in the least by us tongue-tied students”.

When Mrs Christian arrived in Oxford she quickly became a driving force in the Oxford University Newcomers Club.

Between 1962 and 1963 Mrs Christian and her family lived in Cleveland, Ohio, where Jack was on sabbatical.

Mrs Christian was horrified by the racism of the time, but heartened by President John F Kennedy.

She initially joined the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People, but spurred on by a friend decided it was too wishy washy and joined Black Power.

In 1987, Mrs Christian was elected Labour city councillor for Marston and served as chairman of the estates and planning committees before becoming Lord Mayor in 2000.

Jack was immensely proud of Mrs Christian's political achievements and he enjoyed playing the role of the Lord Mayor's escort.

He accompanied her at the ceremony at which Morse author Colin Dexter was granted the Freedom of the City in February, 2001. Jack died suddenly the following day.

When people remarked about her support for Jack, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, Mrs Christian said: “People say that, but it has been nothing as compared with his support for me.”

Mrs Christian held the portfolio for culture during her time on the council and was involved with many Oxford organisations for the arts, sitting on the Playhouse board and the advisory council of Oxford Philomusica.

Mrs Christian continued work as an active councillor right up to her last admission to hospital on January 22.

Her funeral will be held on February 14 at Oxford Crematorium before a commemoration of her life at New College, Oxford, at 2.30pm, at which everyone who knew her is welcome.