Former Oxford University Press Printer Vivian Ridler CBE, who rose to become the president of the British Federation of Master Printers, has died aged 95.

Mr Ridler, who worked at OUP for 30 years and held the post of Printer to the University for two decades, was described as having an immense passion and skill for his profession.

Originally from Cardiff, and educated at Bristol Grammar School, Mr Ridler moved to London in the 1930s and became a typography tutor at the Royal College of Art in London.

It was in London where he met his future wife, poet Anne Bradby.

During the Second World War he worked as an intelligence officer in the RAF stationed in Africa, before moving to Oxford in 1948.

Starting as a works manager, he became assistant printer in 1949 and Printer — the head role at OUP — in 1958.

The former Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Sir Hugo Brunner, who worked with Mr Ridler at OUP, said: “I thought the world of Vivian. He was a really lovely man. He was also a brilliant designer of print. He had a wonderful eye for how print and books should look.”

His daughter, Jane Scott, 67, said: “We were very proud of him in everything he did. People said he was the last great Printer, but he was an extremely modest man.”

Mr Ridler was awarded the CBE for his services to printing in 1971.

He retired from his role at OUP in 1978 and went on to continue his own private press in his potting shed, known as the Perpetua Press.

However as a passionate lover of film Mr Ridler counted one of his greatest achievements as securing a role as an extra in the opening scenes of the Hollywood film Heaven's Gate, which was part filmed in Oxford.

Mr Ridler’s last public appearance was in December at an exhibition of his Christmas cards from the 1940s to the 1990s by the Bodleian Library.

The card were sent to Mr Ridler from luminaries such as TS Elliot.

Mr Ridler died on January 11 at his home in Stanley Road.

He leaves four children, Mrs Scott and Mrs Wilson, and Ben, 61 and Colin, 58, and six grandchildren.