Aubrey Wale, the self-styled 'Mr Awkward' of the Oxford Mail letters page, has died at the age of 83.

Mr Wale, of London Court, London Road, Headington, was born in Oxford on May 1, 1917, and lived in the city all his life.

After leaving school he got a job with United Oxford Hospital - now known as the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust - and worked there throughout his career. By the time he retired he had reached the position of payroll supervisor.

In 1954 he married Rosemary Chaundy, who died eight years later. The couple had one adopted son, Michael, who lives in Abingdon.

His interests included singing in various local choirs and writing controversial letters to newspapers. Eric Auckland, a friend and fellow member of the Frewin Club, in St Aldate's, said: "Barely a week went by without one of his letters being published by the papers."

He was also a member of the Bury Knowle Club in Headington.

Oxford Mail community editor Peter Unsworth said: "You could always rely on Aubrey to argue the opposite to the majority. He was mischievous, but never unkind."