Harry Wheeler, who has died aged 92, spent his whole working life in the newspaper industry in Oxford.

He began as a printer and ended as a journalist in a career spanning 50 years.

He started as an apprentice compositor with The Oxford Times at its premises at Victoria Court behind the New Theatre in 1927.

Three years later, he moved to New Inn Hall Street after the paper was taken over by the newly-launched Oxford Mail.

When the Mail and Times moved to Osney Mead in 1972, he was one of only a handful of staff who had worked at all three offices. After completing his seven-year apprenticeship, he was invited to join the reading department, checking compositors' and journalists' work for errors. He remained there for 35 years, the last 15 as head reader. He later worked as a sub-editor on The Oxford Times, before retiring in 1977.

Over the years, he built up an extensive knowledge of Oxford, which was in much demand from colleagues.

He had a long association with the Oddfellows Friendly Society, joining at the age of five and in 1939, at the age of 26, becoming the youngest Provincial Grand Master in the Oxford district.

Mr Wheeler lived in Bowness Avenue, Headington, for many years, then Iffley Road, Oxford, and Latimer Road, Headington, before moving to Spencer Court old people's home at Woodstock.

He leaves two sons, John and Julian, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. His wife Nesta, a nurse, died in 2000.