Former Oxford Mail and Oxford Times journalist Peter Sykes was known for his “great respect” for the English language.

More tributes were last night paid to the former Oxford Times editor, who died on Monday aged 81 after a short illness.

A graduate of Oxford University’s Merton College, Mr Sykes began his working life in the city as a reporter on the Oxford Mail in 1956 and stayed with the company for almost 40 years, becoming editor of The Oxford Times in 1988.

Former Oxford Mail assistant editor Peter Unsworth said: “Peter Sykes was one of the calmest blokes I’ve ever met, with a great respect for the English language.

“It was difficult to tell whether he was a journalist first or a musician, or the other way round.

“He had an ability to mix with Town and Gown like no other person I’ve come across.”

John Chipperfield, former assistant editor and news editor of the Oxford Mail, said: “Peter Sykes was a great influence in my career, supporting my application to become a trainee reporter in 1964.

“As a journalist, Peter was quiet, efficient and unflappable, and he taught me a great deal about how to run a busy newsroom – lessons which proved tremendously helpful when I became news editor in 1979.”

Derek Holmes, former editor of the Oxford Times, said: “I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Peter Sykes back in 1990 and to be taken on as a reporter in Oxford.

“Peter was part of a generation of journalists that spent virtually the whole of their working lives at the Oxford Mail and the Oxford Times.

“There were plenty of talented characters around at that time, of whom Peter was one.”

Mr Sykes was married to Irene, his wife of 57 years with whom he had twins Christopher and Melanie.

She said: “He was very generous to his family. I think he was a bit intolerant of fools. He didn’t suffer them gladly, but he was very kind and generous.”

She added: “He saw the strange side of life, he loved his humour. He didn’t dwell on the doom and gloom of life.”

His passion for music, and jazz in particular, was a constant in his life and the Sykes family “enjoyed many good holidays” on the back of royalties earned from his song It Will Soon Be Spring, his widow said.

He formed the Peter Sykes Big Band and played in a smaller ensemble called Edge, and later in life composed pieces for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra.

His funeral will be held at Oxford Crematorium on Monday, September 26, at 11.15am.

Family flowers only.