RENOWNED tenor, inspirational science teacher and former District Scout Commissioner Dr Robert Lowrie has died aged 80.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday at St Giles’ Church in Oxford for Dr Robert "Bob" Lowrie, of Wheatley, who died after a year-long illness in April.

Choristers from all over England are expected to attend the service and international countertenor James Bowman CBE, will pay tribute to Dr Lowrie's impact on generations of choristers at New College.

Born in Birmingham in 1935, Dr Lowrie first moved to Oxford in 1955 as an undergraduate at Merton College, where he read chemistry, following national service in the RAF.

In spite of a heavy academic workload, he made extensive use of opportunities to develop his singing, as a chorister at Merton College and in many university groups.

Dr Lowrie's fine voice was recognised by David (now Sir David) Lumsden, who invited him to join New College Choir as lay-clerk in 1959, a post he was to hold for the next 25 years.

In addition to his outstanding talent as a musician, Dr Lowrie was a keen Coxswain, coxing the Merton First Eight and the University second Eight, Isis, to many successes in the late 1950s.

He remained at Oxford following his degree to undertake pioneering research in the then new field of gas chromatography, and was awarded his doctorate in 1961.

Dr Lowrie was then appointed assistant chemistry master at Magdalen College School where his inspirational teaching led to his entire first A-Level group gaining scholarships and places at Oxford or Cambridge.

He wrote a number of best-selling A-Level chemistry textbooks and when the post of Head of Chemistry arose at the newly formed Oxford School (from the amalgamation of City of Oxford High School and Southfield School), he was delighted to be appointed.

As Head of Science Dr Lowrie developed an innovative and exciting department in brand new laboratories, and his contribution to science education nationally was recognised by the award of a Fellowship by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

He later took wider responsibilities in the whole school as a senior teacher, and his support of musicianship led to Oxford School building a significant local reputation for taking its choral singing into the community.

Dr Lowrie’s singing with New College continued and his experience supported the development of many choral scholars, to whom he acted as a mentor.

He was also a founder member of Pro Musica Singers, Oxford’s renowned singing group, where his performances ranged from major choral works to being a chorister in several episodes of TV comedy Vicar of Dibley, including Alices’s wedding.

For many years, Bob conducted and directed the choir of St Barnabas Church in Jericho and latterly he has sung with St Giles’ Church Choir, giving many hours to supporting and coaching the young choristers of St Giles’ Academy.

Dr Lowrie moved from Headington to Wheatley in 1990 and became a celebrated performer in many local choral productions, building a particularly strong and reciprocal musical relationship with local composer and musician, Roger Simmonds, in whose original works he performed to much acclaim.

Dr Lowrie, who was not married and did not have children, dedicated his life to supporting and mentoring others.

He was particularly passionate in his support of the Scout Association in the area, especially in Wheatley and at 48th Oxford, leading many outward bound expeditions to the Brecon Beacons and becoming District Commissioner for Oxford.

In 2014, Dr Lowrie's health deteriorated and he bore his final illness after a severe stroke bravely, receiving scores of visitors and good wishes from across the world.

He died peacefully on April 5 with, as he would have wished, Radio 3 playing quietly in the background.

No funeral took place as Dr Lowrie donated his body to medical research.

The memorial service will begin at 3pm.