'WHEN he spoke up for Blackbird Leys, you could hear him all over Oxford.'

That was the verdict of ex-East Oxford MP Andrew Smith on his friend and colleague Gordon Roper who has been awarded one of the city's highest honours for his tireless work over two decades.

Mr Roper stood down from the estate's parish council in May after being its leader for more than a decade and on Thursday evening he was given a certificate of honour at a special reception in Oxford Town Hall.

In a moving speech, Mr Smith, who served on the council with Mr Roper, sang his praises for his work to improve the estate and honour the memory of his late wife Val Smith, who died in 2015.

He said: "This is somebody who has given inestimable service to Blackbird Leys in particular but also to the city as a whole and to our country via his military service.

"He has been a great friend of mine for 40 years and has achieved so much.

"He has always been a superb voice of common sense and has overseen improvements across the board."

He added: "We are proud of the progress the community had made - it looks better, it feels better.

"There are still challenges but it is getting a fairer deal.

"He is someone who will always understand what local people are thinking and feeling and was never afraid to speak out even if it ruffles a few feathers."

Mr Roper, 79, oversaw the rejuvenation of the parish council in his last year in office after it was reduced to its 'bare bones' due to a lack of members.

The former Unipart worker also served in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

He dedicated himself to tackling local issues, and list his achievements as installing defibrillators, closing an alley way that was being used for drug dealing and laying a path through Spindleberry Park.

The current Lord Mayor of Oxford Colin Cook awarded the certificate at the reception attended by Mr Roper's friends and family.

Mr Roper said he would have liked to have been a city or county councillor but wouldn't have obeyed the party whip.

He eventually found he could get more done on the parish council, working with the two councils where required.

Speaking at the reception, he said: "This is a real honour and a privilege - I am quite taken aback by it all.

"I thoroughly enjoyed all the years I spent on the council.

"I have got the award but it should have gone to my wife for putting up with me through all those meetings.

"You'll always need people who are prepared to stand up for what the estate needs.

"I say to everyone: come on and let's show them what we've got."