THE former landlord of Oxford city centre pub The King’s Arms, Syd Kyffin, has died aged 90.

Mr Kyffin took over the popular pub in Holywell in 1970 and was landlord there for 21 years.

Mr Kyffin and his wife Sheila were popular figures among students and beer drinkers. The Kyffins are credited with being at the vanguard of efforts to keep real ale alive in Oxford pubs, serving a wide choice of beers.

Early in his tenancy Mr Kyffin once even threatened to quit on the spot when his brewery bosses tried to take out his beer pumps and replace them with top pressure dispensers.

Born in Paddington, Mr Kyffin left school at the age of 14, working at a cinema and the Post Office. During the Second World War, he served in North Africa and the Middle East with the Royal Corps of Signals.

On leaving the army he and Mrs Kyffin, took a lease on a property in Bayswater, letting rooms to medical students from nearby St Mary’s Hospital. Their liking for being surrounded by students led them to Oxford in 1970 to take on the King’s Arms.

It was soon widely recognised as the best students’ pub in the city. Mr Kyffin went on to chair the Oxford and District Licensed Victuallers' Association.

In 1991 the couple retired, selling their interest in the King’s Arms to Young’s Brewery and settling in Headington and later Islip. But the London brewery, recognising the family’s popularity, decided to keep their son David in charge as the pub manager.

Mr Kyffin, who leaves three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, passed away last month. His wife died three years ago.

A requiem mass was held at St Anthony of Padua Church, Headley Way, Oxford last Thursday.