ONE of the founders of All Saints Methodist church in Abingdon and the town's operatic society, Dr Geoffrey Long, has died after a long battle with cancer. He was 76.

Dr Long, from Chiers Drive, Drayton, was at the first formal meeting of the church in Appleford Drive in 1959 with his wife Margaret. A month later he was elected one of the first leaders of the new church.

In 1957, he was among the first members of the newly-formed Abingdon Operatic Society. He had a fine voice and in the society's early years was its chairman, later being elected president.

Dr Long was born in Bradford and went to Leeds University where he gained a first-class degree in chemistry and a PhD before beginning work with the UK Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell in 1953.

During the oil crisis of 1974, Dr Long became the first leader of a Government programme to support renewable sources of energy. His work grew and today goes under the title Future Energy Solutions in what is now AEA Technology.

He moved from Abingdon to live in Drayton with his family in 1989. After he retired, Dr Long played a leading role in the village newsletter, the Drayton Chronicle, for ten years as co-ordinator and editor until he retired in January through ill health.

The Chronicle's advertising manager, Linda Semmens, said: "Without Geoff there probably wouldn't have been a Chronicle today."

Chronicle editor Derek Pooley said: "Geoff was a true gentleman, a somewhat diffident person who nevertheless achieved much through his ability, application and charm. He will be sorely missed."

His funeral was at All Saints. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and daughters, Juliette and Kathy.