TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Abingdon “mayor”, Morris dancer, and even Father Christmas.

Leslie Argyle, who was born in Abingdon, was Mayor of Ock Street for 15 years, and a Morris dancer for 60 years.

He was a dedicated churchgoer, travelled the world, helped to found the Abingdon Mummers and was a keen photographer.

He died on January 6 aged 86.

Friend Dave Spiers said: “Leslie Argyle, Les to all his friends in the Morris, started dancing with Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers in 1951.

“During the following 60 years he was a stalwart of Abingdon morris dancing and was Mayor of Ock Street from 1980 to 1995.

“Les was also a member of Oxford City Morris Men from the 1950s up to the 1970s.”

He was born in Boxhill Walk, Abingdon, where he lived until 1983, when his father died.

He then moved to his flat in Ock Street.

He attended Abingdon Council School, now Carswell Community Primary, and from early childhood went to the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Ock Street, where his father was a steward and trustee and his mother played the organ.

As soon as his age permitted, he gave out hymn books and took the collection.

His aunt, Jessie Trotman, was organist at the Baptist Church.

He joined the Youth Hostel Association in 1948 and served on local committees for many years.

His first job was as a junior accountant before he joined his uncle at Trotman’s Bakery, where he worked from 1944 to 1983.

When Trotman’s was sold to Holmes, he moved to Day’s Bakery in Edward Street, which later moved to Bath Street.

Acquaintances said he could often be seen, with flour all over his hands, through the bakery door, always ready with a smile and a chat.

After joining Abingdon Traditional Morris Men in 1951, he became Mayor of Ock Street, or squire of the team, in 1980, succeeding Charlie Brett.

The title dates from the 16th century St Edmund’s horse fair in the town.

As well as representing the Traditional Morris Dancers in France, Belgium, Holland and Norway he also choreographed two new dances for the group.

When Ock Street Methodist Chapel closed Mr Argyle transferred to Trinity Methodist church.

He was a communion steward and book steward there for more than 40 years and said his faith was a basic part of his life, as it had been with his parents.

Friends said another love of his life was travelling, including Moscow, the Niagara Falls, Iceland and the Nile Valley and always taking his camera. His funeral will be at Trinity Church at 11am tomorrow.

His Morris troupe will be there to say goodbye and will perform the dance they invented for his 80th birthday in 2007.

Mr Argyle did not marry and is not believed to have any living relatives.