Michael Maclagan

A former history lecturer at Trinity College, he had been suffering a chest infection and died on August 13 -- the day of his wife Jean's funeral. She died from cancer, aged 82, on August 3, and his son David said the shock of losing his wife might have contributed to his death.

The couple met during the Second World War when they worked at the War Office, and after Mr Maclagan divorced his first wife, Brenda Alexander, who is David's mother, he and Jean married in 1949.

Shortly afterwards, they moved to Oxford, where Mr Maclagan became a Fellow at Trinity College, where he remained until 1981. He was an expert on Byzantine and early medieval history and was fluent in French, German and Latin.

David Maclagan added: "People described him as being old-fashioned in his demeanour and his dress and he was alleged to be the last person in Oxford to wear spats."

Mr Maclagan became a university councillor in 1946, and was elected as an alderman in 1965 after his year as Sheriff. He was vice-president of Trinity College when he was selected as Lord Mayor in 1970.

His colleagues said he had all the right qualities to make a good Lord Mayor -- dignity, humour, humanity, devotion to public well-being and an attractive, energetic and helpful wife.

His son David said: "My father and Jean were a very hospitable couple. Jean was a good cook and they made a splendid pair."

The Maclagans, who lived in Northmoor Road, north Oxford, are also survived by daughters Ianthe and Helen. Their son Andrew died from leukaemia in 1984 aged 26.