ERIC Dyke OBE, a former education chief described as a natural ‘gentleman’ by friends and family, has passed away, aged 95.

Mr Dyke was born in Witham in Essex before moving to Oxford in 1950.

During the Second World War, Mr Dyke, pictured right, served briefly in General Montgomery’s HQ staff during the Battle of Britain.

Later in the war, he was Mentioned in Dispatches during the North Africa campaign.

After the war, he lived in Cumnor from 1950, moving to Abingdon Court Care Home in 2008.

Mr Dyke served as a member of Oxfordshire County Council staff from 1950 until 1976, first as further education officer and then as acting deputy director of education.

After 1974, he was the principal education officer for further and higher education in the city, and received an OBE in 1976.

Following retirement in 1976 he served for six years as an associate tutor at the National Further Education Staff College, Coombe Lodge, near Bristol.

In the late 1980s he was the national chairman of the University of the Third Age (U3A), a self-help organisation for people no longer in full-time employment which provides educational and creative opportunities.

Mr Dyke assisted with the development of 12 local U3As in Oxfordshire.

A member of the Oxford Isis Probus Club from 1982, he was its president in 1986.

In Cumnor during the 1970s, he was vice chairman of the Cumnor Old School management committee and chairman of the youth club committee and a member of the parochial church council.

For 20 years he sang in the Oxford Harmonic Choir and 10 years with the Cumnor Choral Society.

His son John Dyke, from Dulwich, London, paid tribute to his father on behalf of his family.

He said: “ He was the least nostalgic or sentimental of men.

“His abiding interests were in international relations and current affairs and although clear sighted it was never with cynicism or pessimism.

“He always looked for the best in other people and was repaid in kind.

“Immersed in the present, he looked forward with hope. Eric was an innately decent, modest, courteous and honourable man, a ‘gentleman’ in the natural meaning of the word.

“As well as his family and many friends, he drew sus- tenance from his ecumenical Anglican faith, music, walking, cricket and gardening.

“Eric’s natural optimism and appreciation of the moment survived almost until the very end.

“Eric will be happily remembered by us all for a long life well and fully lived.”

His wife, Rita, passed away in 2004.

Mr Dyke is survived by his two children, Julia and John, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.