One of the world's leading anatomists and neuroscientists has died at the age of 71.

Willliam Maxwell Cowan, formerly of Old Marston, studied at Oxford University from 1956 to 1959, achieving degrees in medicine and chemistry and a doctorate.

He lectured at the university for eight years before moving to the US in 1967 where he became vice president and chief scientific officer at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the professor of neuroscience at John Hopkins University. He returned to Oxford regularly to lecture and to see relatives.

He leaves his wife, Margaret, sons, David and Stephen, and two grandsons.