FORMER Abingdon College lecturer William ‘John’ Wardle has died aged 86.

Mr Wardle, who lived in Farm Road, Abingdon, died at Beech Court Care Home in Eynsham on Wednesday, February 22, after suffering a stroke in December.

Neighbour Pauline Claridge said: “We are all sorry to lose him – he was a great character who will live on in our memories.”

The former business law teacher retired from the college in 1989 after working there for 26 years and teaching nearly 3,000 pupils.

Mr Wardle, who was an only child and never married, loved sport – especially rugby and cricket.

He was an umpire for North Oxford Cricket Club.

He was born in Gloucester, and worked there as an office clerk before serving in the Second World War. After hostilites ended, he joined the Midlands Electricity Board.

While working for the board, he began teaching part-time in the evenings and went on to complete a teacher training course at Bolton College.

He taught in London and Gloucester before getting a job at Abingdon College when it was based in Bury Street.

He lived in Blewbury before moving to Farm Road in 1966.

A funeral service was held yesterday at Oxford Crematorium.