LEADING mathematics professor, Sir Christopher Zeeman, has died, at the age of 91.

Described as a brilliant, remarkable and charismatic lecturer, Sir Christopher, from Woodstock, was the 63rd president of the London Mathematical Society from 1986 to 1988, and was awarded the Senior Whitehead Prize of the Society in 1982.

In 1978 he prepared acclaimed Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for children, which were broadcast by the BBC.

The father-of-six lived in Woodstock, with his wife Lady Rosemary, for nearly 30 years.

Sir Christopher was born on February 4 1925 in Japan to a Danish father, Christian, and a British mother, Christine Bushnell.

He had one sister, Catherine, who was four years older.

One year after his birth, the family moved to England.

After being educated at Christ's Hospital in Horsham, West Sussex, Sir Christopher served as a flying officer with the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1947.

He went on to study mathematics at Christ's College, Cambridge, but had forgotten much of his school mathematics while serving for the air force.

Nevertheless he received an MA and PhD from the University of Cambridge, and became a Fellow of Gonville and Caius College.

In 1960 he married Rosemary in Cambridge, and the couple went on to have five children together; Tristan, Mary Lou, Crispin, Francesca, and Sam.

He also had another daughter, Nicolette, from his first marriage.

When he was 38-years-old, in 1963, he started at Warwick University as one of the establishment's founding mathematics professors.

His colleague and good friend David Rand described him as "a brilliant mathematician, exceptional lecturer, remarkable polymath and deep-thinking leader and administrator".

He added that his "remarkable" skills as a leader and planner led Warwick University to name its 2004 maths block the Zeeman building, in his honour.

Sir Christopher's many awards included a knighthood in 1991, a fellowship of the Royal Society in 1975, the Royal Society’s Faraday Medal in 1988, and the Senior Whitehead Prize of the London Mathematical Society in 1982.

In 1988, at age 63, he became Principal of Hertford College, Oxford and he and his family moved to Woodstock.

He retired from lecturing in 1996, but continued practicing mathematics and took up bellringing. He also enjoyed listening to music and walking.

Sir Christopher Zeeman died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, February 13.

He is survived by his wife Lady Rosemary Zeeman, his sister Catherine, his six children, and five grandchildren, Stephan, 25, Mathilde, 25, Sophie, 14, Haresh, 14, and Morris, two.

The family held a private funeral on Tuesday but will be releasing details about a public service in due course.

There is also the opportunity to donate to a fund to support young mathematicians, being set up in Sir Christopher's name, under the auspices of the London Mathematical Society.