JONATHAN Markson, the man who created one of Europe’s biggest and best known tennis camps in Oxford, has died aged 55.

The Jonathan Markson Oxford Tennis camp attracted thousands of players from its inception in 1981.

Mr Markson, himself a Scottish tennis international, will also be remembered as one of Oxford University’s most successful sports coaches since the war.

Under his guidance, Oxford won 10 times against Cambridge in 12 years.

Born in Glasgow, Mr Markson first arrived in Oxford to read law at Christ Church and became the university’s coach, overturning 14 years of defeats to Cambridge.

He hit on the idea of setting up a school after working in the United States with the late Frank Brennan, who coached tennis legend Billie-Jean King.

The school quickly became an Oxford sports institution.

In 1986 he opened an all-year round centre at Praia Da Luz in Portugal, and later opened centres in Majorca, Venice, Eastern Europe, South Africa and the United States.

But the Oxford camp remained the heart of the operation and in 2009 attracted 1,000 players for the first time, with Martin Kilday, who once coached Andy Murray, established as the chief coach.

Mr Markson, who lived in London, was diagnosed with leuk-aemia four months ago.

His partner, Andrea Volna, gave birth to their daughter Daniella three months ago. He leaves three other children Jack, 15, Susie, 12 and Jessica, two.