For 27 years Mick Harris dished up tasty cooked breakfasts at Mick’s Cafe in Botley Road in Oxford.

Builders would sit next to businessmen to enjoy their fry-ups, with Mick and his staff working hard in the kitchen to plate up the next order.

It was the end of an era in 2013 when he retired and the cafe closed.

Read again: Sad cafe as Mick fries his last breakfast

Michael Anthony Harris was born on August 21, 1940 at home in Oxford to Nelly and Ernie Harris, and a sister Pauline came along three years later.

He attended New Hinksey Primary School and South Oxford School.

Mr Harris started out working for Blackwell’s Books in the packing shed, then at the car factory, and was also a delivery driver for Davis Parcel Delivery until he ventured out into owning his own business in the 1980s, running a corner newsagents in Abingdon Road. It was one of the first to hire out VHS videos.

Once the larger supermarkets dominated local corner shops Mr Harris decided to open the breakfast cafe near the station.

Although he had a very busy working life he still managed to raise a family. He was married three times and had four children - Carol, Jenny, Wendy and Anthony.

He married Stephanie in 2005 and his large family kept him busy, including six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Despite developing Alzheimer’s disease he still enjoyed a varied and active life with many friends and family regularly taking him out for long walks, and he was a member of many clubs.

Read more: Cafe formerly known as Mick's is back open for business

As a keen musician he still played the drums up until two years ago.

Mr Harris started his drumming career when he joined the Boys Brigade, and he could often be seen parading along the streets.

Skiffle was a clear favourite and his very first musical adventure was playing a washboard and drums in a skiffle band.

As he got older he took his drumming to the next level and joined The Electrons, with long-time friend Mark Phillips who played guitar and sang rock and roll.

Mick’s claim to fame was with State Affair who won Opportunity Knocks in the 1970s.

After that he played with many different bands, including country bands Indiana, and Allen James until he went back to his roots of rock and roll and joined his son Anthony’s band Move It.

He was with Move It for 21 years and on some occasions would sing - his favourite track was Worried Man Blues by Lonnie Donegan.

Move It is a family band and Anthony’s wife Jackie Harris plays the bass guitar.

Those involved over the years enjoyed happy times together and very special memories were made.

As well as drumming Mr Harris enjoyed watching Oxford United home matches.

Fishing was also a favourite and he and Anthony spent many afternoons enjoying the sport.

He was keen on making model fairground rides and aeroplanes; some were displayed in his café and he also enjoyed paint by numbers. In the 1980s Mr Harris also had his own disco and entertained many a pupil at Hinksey school, as well as other functions and events. He was proud of all the television work he undertook and various roles as an extra in films including American Friends.

The funeral is expected to take place at Oxford Crematorium on July 6. Mick Harris lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on June 3 at the Horton Hospital Banbury. He was 80.