Mr George Rowland, of Norman Drive, Acomb, died at home this week after a long illness. He was 74.

Mr Rowland became well known to city music lovers when in 1973 he presented his collection of oboe music to the library.

The collection, which he continued to add to right until his death, now contains more than 900 items. It is unique and includes music from all over Europe as well as rare pieces such as a composition by Hadamowsky, principal oboe player of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mr Rowland, who worked in the tax office at York until retirement in the early 1970s, began playing in a regimental band at 15 when he joined the York and Lancaster Regiment.

Mr Rowland was a former member of the Sayer Orchestra, in which his wife played the clarinet. Mr Rowland gave tuition to private pupils and students at Bootham School, St Peter’s School and Archbishop Holgate’s Grammar School from 1950. He stopped classes in 1970, due to ill health.

Mr Neesam said: "He has been one of the greatest benefactors that the York Music Library has ever had.

He added: "The Rowland Oboe Collection is now nationally known, with more than 900 items of oboe music."