George Prescott, a stonemason who worked on many historic buildings in Oxford, has died aged 91.

Mr Prescott came to Oxford in 1960 from Barbados, where he had learned his trade, working on hotels, schools and government buildings on the island.

He came to Britain shortly after marrying Evelyn Drayton. The couple chose to settle in Oxford, where Mr Prescott’s sister, Dorothy Messiah, was working as a housekeeper.

He took a job with Symm & Company, where he was to spend the next 25 years as a mason in a team of craftsmen builders, specialising in conservation, restoration, alteration and extension of historic buildings.

The family first lived in Regent Street, East Oxford, before moving to Blackbird Leys.

As a senior craftsman, his work ranged from high profile walling in the city centre to important behind-the-scenes masonry repairs within buildings.

Much of his best work was carried out at Oxford University colleges, including Christ Church, Merton, Worcester and St Hilda’s, as well as at churches and city council buildings.

He was also a skilled plasterer and much of his work over his latter years with the company made use of this additional skill.

After retiring 28 years ago he continue to keep his hand in at building. When in his 80s he built an extension to the family home in Furlong Close and was heavily involved in the renovation of the Elim Pentecostal Church, in Botley Road, where he was baptised late in life.

Mr Prescott died at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on March 8.

His funeral was held on March 21 at the Church of the Holy Family in Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn, his brother Ben, his four children Esther, Alice, Betty and Wayne, and seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.