A saxophonist who formed an Oxford band and was known for encouraging young musicians has died aged 72.

Vic Good

Vic Good, who was born in Headington in September 1931, formed The Vic Good Band, a jazz influenced dance band, in the mid-1950s. It continued in various forms until 1997.

On leaving school, Mr Good, who died on August 23, was taken on as an apprentice at Kemp Hall Bindery. He also played goalkeeper for Headington United, now Oxford United.

About the same time, he learned to play tenor saxophone and was soon performing regularly with local bands.

In 1953, he was called up to do National Service and chose to become a regular soldier in order to join a regimental band playing in the Oxford and Bucks light infantry band and the regiment's dance band.

Two years later, he was discharged from the army after serving most of his time in Germany. He then started work at Morris Motors, where he worked until his retirement in 1996.

About the same time he formed his band, he also started playing lead tenor sax with pianist Peter Sykes, a former Oxford Mail columnist and editor of The Oxford Times, as part of the Peter Sykes Big Band.

Mr Sykes said Mr Good was an extremely good reader of music and always very keen.

"He was a thoroughly nice bloke and a very good musician," he said. If you had a band, you would want him in it."

During the 1970s and 1980s, Mr Good served as a committee member in the Oxford branch of the Musicians' Union, organising many functions, including several union balls.

In the early 1970s, he co-formed the Blue Velvet Youth Band to nurture new talent. The band went on to spawn many musical careers during his 10-year stewardship.

He also formed the Perdido Jazz club in Wheatley in the 1950s with Pete McBrian, which featured guests such as Tubby Hayes and Dudley Moore.

In his later years he enjoyed playing in the Harold Elmey rehearsal band every Monday night.

Mr Good, who lived in Horspath before moving to Milton Keynes five years ago, is survived by his wife Joan, children Gary and Nicky, and five grand-children Jade, Rhiannon, Harriet, Alannah and Jarrett. The funeral was held yesterday (Wednesday, September 1) at Oxford Crematorium.