After more than four decades of working for one of the oldest colleges in Oxford, Ted Busby has retired - aged 82.

Mr Busby, who started working at Lincoln College in Turl Street in 1962, has worked as a scout, bartender, an assistant butler and head butler.

And Mr Busby, who lives in Abingdon Road, Oxford, says life at the college has changed completely since he started working there 45 years ago.

He said: "When I started here, Lincoln College was a male-only college and the students used to get up to all sorts of pranks.

"One time, they filled one of the corridors with snow, so that no one could get through.

"It was all done with the best of intentions and if any damage was done they would own up."

Current head butler Kevin Egleston, who was a one time apprentice of Mr Busby, said his former mentor would be missed, especially by old students who visit the college.

Mr Egleston said: "People are always asking after him and still remember him, even after 35 years."

He said Mr Busby ran a "tight ship" in his time as head butler, and took pride in enforcing the college's dining etiquette.

He said: "If you took red wine to the high table, Ted would always make sure that it wasn't too close to the water otherwise it would chill. And with Champagne he always used to say, 'you should never let the cork pop, it should sound like a lady's hiccup.'"

While at Lincoln College, Mr Busby served politicians, royalty and authors.

Mr Busby said: "I've served Prince Philip, the Crown Prince of Japan, the President of Iceland, and Agatha Christie. And those are just the ones I remem- ber."

Mr Busby said he would miss working at the college but planned to call in occasionally to see his old colleagues.