A CHARITY chief executive has died after a fatal crash in Brize Norton earlier this year.

Timothy Joss, 68, of Burford Road, Carterton, was involved in a crash on January 24 in Witney Road, Brize Norton.

He was cycling when at about 3.55pm he was involved in a collision with a red VW polo.

The car driver, a 19-year-old man, was uninjured. He was arrested on suspicion of ‘causing death by careless driving’ and has since been released on bail.

An inquest was opened into his death at Oxford Coroner’s Court on February 14 where it was heard the medical cause of his death has been provided as ‘multiple injuries’.

Senior coroner Darren Salter has scheduled a date for a full inquest to take place on July 22 at 10am.

At the time of his death, Mr Joss' wife paid tribute to her "pioneering and leader".

Mrs Parry, a former trustee of Aesop, said: “He was a pioneer, a leader and deeply proud of his team, board and dance artists, using evidence-based arts interventions for health problems.

“We loved each other deeply. I am utterly bereft.”

Mr Joss also leaves behind daughter Hannah Joss, granddaughter Clemency and two stepsons, Owen and Ellis Parry.

A family tribute described him as a “remarkable man, a gifted pianist, a talented mathematician, a bridge builder and a visionary leader" in his field of arts and health.

A statement released on Wednesday morning said: “He was incredibly proud of his colleagues at Aesop, and of his board and dance artists.

“There was so much in his life that he could have boasted about but he was unfailingly modest and wore his talents lightly. 

“He always met people where they were and had a special skill for bringing people together from across his wide networks. 

“And when he had an idea, he was utterly determined about it, no matter what the setbacks.  He was a man of strong principles and values.”

At the time of his death, with no suggestion of retirement, he was working on the best art forms to help women prisoners on short-term sentences escape self-harm and ways of making the lives of people with breathing conditions easier. 

Chairman of Aesop, Professor Kevin Fenton, who is regional director of Public Health for NHS London, added: “We are so very sorry to lose our wonderful colleague and friend Tim.

“It was a privilege to work closely with him to realise the ambitions of Aesop over many years.

“We will deeply miss his advocacy, passion and commitment to creative health.

“Tim’s vision was of a future when arts solutions are valued and available for all that need them.”

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In his education years, Mr Joss won a scholarship to read maths at Queens College Oxford but his real love was music. 

He went on from Oxford to study piano at the Royal Academy of Music before becoming artistic director of the Bath Festivals. 

His time in Bath saw him also become a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour for his services to French music.

Mr Joss then went on to head a major grant-giving trust, the Rayne Foundation before developing a theme of bridge building which was used to put together the hit dance show ‘Five Soldiers’ by Rosie Kay. 

He also set up the National Numeracy Scheme and helped secure funding for education for Arab and Jewish children in Israel.