York Hospital's first administrator has died, aged 86.

Charles Brice, of Heworth, York, died on Monday in the hospital he helped establish. He had suffered a stroke in January.

Mr Brice had been an influential figure in York's health service for more than 30 years, from his arrival in the city in 1949 until his retirement in 1980.

He became York's City Hospital's first non-medical administrative officer in 1949 and, 25 years later, he became sector administrator for all the acute hospitals within the York Health District.

Later in his career, he was involved in the opening of the district hospital in Wigginton Road, now York Hospital, becoming its first administrator.

He was also instrumental in paving the way for York Hospital's maternity unit.

A passionate York City Football Club supporter for more than 50 years, Mr Brice was well-known in the city.

He was married for almost 50 years to former nurse, Sally, who died 14 years ago. He leaves two children, Andrew and Susan, three grandchildren, Richard, Katie and Christopher, and a great-granddaughter, Olivia.

He was also grandfather to the late Philip.

His son, Andrew said: "He was a well-respected, upstanding and sociable man. He knew a lot of people in York and still knew a number of people at the hospital."

He said his father had first met the ward sister who looked after him when he died when she was a first year student nurse.

Born in Gravesend, in Kent, in 1917, Mr Brice served in India in the Second World War with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Updated: 10:39 Thursday, February 19, 2004