AUTHOR, actor, scholar and ‘extraordinary’ man Dr John Williams has died, aged 95.

Dr Williams appeared on stage with Alec Guinness before working as an English teacher and later writing books on philosophy.

His most successful book - Pooh and the Philosophers - explains philosophical theories through the character Winnie the Pooh.

It was published around the world and has been used by students ever since, being described by a fellow Oxford academic as ‘marvellously erudite and splendidly preposterous’.

His wife of 40 years, Elizabeth Mapstone described him as an ‘extraordinary person’ with a passion for reading.

John Tyerman Williams was born in Huddersfield on November 23, 1920, an only child.

He was introduced to Shakespeare from an early age and his love of theatre and acting paid off as appeared as a child actor in a West End production of Emil and the Detectives in 1934.

From the age of 11 he was largely self-educated at home developing a passion for reading before earning a History scholarship at Balliol College.

He managed four terms at Oxford in 1939 before the outbreak of the Second World War, but despite beginning training to became an officer he was invalided out with illness and returned home to pursue a career as a jobbing actor.

He struggled to find work in the industry but did perform alongside Sir Alec Guinness at the Old Vic in a production of Coriolanus in 1948.

During this time he married pianist Mary Starling and the couple moved to Boscastle in Cornwall in 1943.

When Mary became ill with arthritis and John started teaching English at Sir John Smith’s Grammar School in Camelford.

Life-long friend Mary Sharpe recalled John’s passion for fox hunting and his taste in hats, particularly deer-stalkers.

His wife died in 1979 and he remained as a teacher at the school where he would meet his second wife Elizabeth Mapstone.

The pair met as Mrs Mapstone’s son Michael happened to be in John’s sixth form class at the school and they married at Oxford Registrar’s Office in 1980 when the couple were both studying at Oxford with Elizabeth reading Psychology at St John’s.

They lived together in Boscastle with Elizabeth’s three children Michael, Lise and Akita.

He moved to Abingdon in his latter years and died last month.

He is survived by his wife Elizabeth and three stepchildren Michael, Lise and Akita.

The funeral takes place today at 3pm at South Oxfordshire Crematorium.