THE first principal of West Oxfordshire College – which later became part of Abingdon & Witney College – has died at the age of 94.

Roland Wilcock helped to establish the college, in Holloway Road, Witney, in 1960 and was its principal until his retirement in 1977.

He was also a member of the Schools Council for England and Wales and had life-long links with Oxford University, where he was chairman of the Wadham Society from 1986 to 1990.

Born on May 4, 1916, Mr Wilcock was brought up in London by his mother. His father, also called Roland, died when he was just six months old, killed in action during the First World War.

His wife Mary said: “Roland’s father was buried on the morning of November 10, 1916. He must have been given little more than a quick prayer. For that reason Roland himself wanted little ceremony at his own funeral.”

After leaving school at the age of 17, in 1933, Mr Wilcock went to work for Scottish Widows.

During the Second World War he joined the Royal Signals, training soldiers in wireless and signals skills, rising to the rank of major.

After the war, Mr Wilcock applied to Oxford University to read history and then to train as a teacher. He moved to Wolverhampton with his wife, whom he had married in 1941, to take up his first teaching post.

Later, he was made the first principal of the new South Oxfordshire Technical College, now Henley Sixth Form College.

Mr Wilcock’s first wife died four years after moving to Witney and in 1966 he married Mary.

In 1977 he was made an OBE for services to education. Following his retirement, Mr Wilcock maintained his love of history, writing many papers, and a book about Oxford’s Examination Schools.

His funeral was held on September 10. He is survived by his second wife, step-daughter, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.