Michael Belson, a former head reader at Oxford University Press, has died aged 66.

Mr Belson joined the Walton Street printer in 1958 as an apprentice and rose up through the ranks.

He started setting out the metal type and moved to proof reading.

In 1989, when OUP closed its printing division at Walton Street, Mr Belson transferred to a role working as a copy editor in the publishing department before eventually becoming head reader.

He was also the last editor of the OUP's staff newspaper, The Clarendonian, before the company stopped producing it.

In 2001, Mr Belson left OUP to become a freelance editor and proof reader specialising in legal books.

In 2003, Mr Belson wrote a book of his own, On The Press. The book was an account of his time at OUP, and focused on more of the social aspect of life of the printing division of the press.

Archivist at the OUP Martin Maw, who was a good friend of Mr Belson, said: "He was a much, much loved man.

"He did everything from writing poetry to pantomimes. Someone said something very good at his funeral, which was that when they were asked what they thought of in connection with him, they said 'sunshine'."

Bob Boyd, who worked with Mr Belson at OUP in the 1960s, said he remembered his friend as being "a bit of a lad".

He said: "He was a bit of a rebel in his younger days.

"He was a lad who always had an answer. But everyone liked him and he had friends from all walks of life. You only had to look at the number who turned out for his funeral."

Mr Belson, who lived in Didcot, died from cancer on September 7. His funeral took place on September 16. He is survived by his wife, Ros, and their two daughters.