SIR Henry Fisher, a former president of Wolfson College, Oxford, has died aged 87.

The graduate college was still in its formative years when he took over in 1975, but was a thriving institution by the time he left -- 10 years later. He regarded his period at the college as an important time in his life.

The eldest of six sons of Archbishop Lord Fisher of Lambeth, he was educated at Marlborough College and Christ Church, Oxford.

He served with the Army in India, Burma and Malaya during the 1940s, leaving in 1946 as a lieutenant colonel.

That same year, he was elected a Fellow of All Souls and was called to the Bar the following year.

Appointed to the High Court bench two years after becoming a judge, he controversially resigned within three years.

He worked for city merchant bankers the Schroder Group from 1970 until 1975, when he was elected president of Wolfson College.

Sir Henry also chaired several important inquiry organisations and committees and led an investigation into alleged abuse of the benefits system. He died on April 10, leaving behind his wife Felicity and four children.