TRIBUTES have been paid to former Lord Mayor of Oxford Maureen Christian, who passed away after a short illness.

Mrs Christian was the city’s Lord Mayor between May 2000 and May 2001 and a serving city councillor up until her death on Friday evening.

Last night, colleagues in the city’s Labour Party described the widow as a great champion of Oxford.

Colin Cook, Labour councillor for Jericho and Osney, said: “Maureen must have been in her 80s but she didn’t like to tell anyone how old she was.

“Various people in the Labour group knew she was ill and had been to visit her in hospital. This has come as a bit of a shock.

“She was always a dogged fighter for people in her ward, and if she did have a difference of opinion with a rival councillor she would always be friends with them afterwards.”

Mrs Christian represented Headington Hill and Northway and was a city councillor for 19 years.

Littlemore councillor John Tanner said: “It is very sad. I understand Maureen had a lung infection and was in intensive care at the John Radcliffe, where she died peacefully in her sleep on Friday night.

“She was a great champion of human rights and a great champion of Oxford and the people of Oxford.”

In 2001 Mrs Christian used her casting vote to allow the Islamic Centre to be built in Marston Road.

Dr Farhan Nizami, director of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, said: “Maureen Christian was one of those people who make Oxford a special place. Her foresight and strength of conviction ensured that Oxford is not a city of lost causes.

“We will miss her, especially when the centre’s new building opens. We will remember her and have a fitting memorial for her in the gardens.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “Maureen cared passionately about our city and social justice for all.

“The Labour Party will miss her, Oxford will miss her, and Northway has lost a doughty champion and good friend — as have my wife Val and I.”

Mrs Christian first became a councillor in 1987, but lost her seat in 2006. She was re-elected in May 2008.

She was also chairman of the council’s strategic development committee until she died.

City council leader Bob Price added: “Getting back on the council last year meant a great deal to Maureen and she was active right up until the very end.”

Mrs Christian leaves a son, John, and a daughter, Louise. Her husband, Prof Jack Christian, died in 2001 aged 73.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk A full obituary will appear in Thursday’s Oxford Mail