A FORMER Tory MP who represented the city of York at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration has died, aged 83.

Charles Longbottom, who died on Tuesday, won York for the Conservatives in 1959 and held it in 1964, before losing to Labour's Alex Lyon in 1966.

He was York MP when the University of York was founded, having stated on his election that he was determined to help it come to fruition.

Mr Longbottom was born in 1930 and educated at Uppingham School in Rutland. He became a barrister and stood unsuccessfully in Stockton-on-Tees in the 1955 General Election before winning in York in 1959, defeating Labour's Dr Douglas Poirier to become an MP, aged 29.

He went on to pursue business interests, becoming chairman of Austin and Pickersgill shipbuilders in Sunderland and also later A&P Appledore International Ltd. He later moved into financial industries, founded two Christian charities and was made an OBE in 2012.

He is survived by his widow and two daughters.