Mr Sudell was born in April 1909, in Harehills, Leeds. He was the son of Ben and Louisa Sudall (he would later substitute the 'a' in his surname for an 'e', reverting it to the original spelling). He had one sister, Constance.

In 1933 he married Jane Price whom he had met a few years earlier and who had her own business as a dressmaker.

Mr Sudell worked as a professional oboe player and later as a Classics teacher. His first professional engagement as a musician was with the Rawdon Amateurs, for which he was paid one guinea.

Work with orchestras playing live accompaniment to silent films in Leeds followed, but with the advent of the "talkies" his father encouraged him to seek work elsewhere. Later he played in the Grand Theatre, Leeds, and toured the country with the Joos Ballet and the Carl Rosa Opera Company as well as being called upon to play for the Joe Loss Orchestra on a number of occasions.

Mr Sudell also played with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under legendary conductor Malcolm Sargant. After one concert he was summoned to Sargant's dressing room. "I was very impressed with your oboe playing" said Sargant, "but don't tell anyone else that."

Fluent in classical Greek, Latin and Russian, Mr Sudell took up his first teaching post at Leeds Grammar School in 1938. He later taught at Ingledew College, in Moortown and also at Moorlands, in Headingley.

Having suffered polio as a child he was unable to take part in regular military service and so spent the Second World War undertaking fire watching duties in Leeds.

On one occasion, in spite of his disability, he climbed up with a hose inside the lift shaft of the old Leeds Co-operative building to extinguish an incendiary device which had dropped through the roof and become lodged at the top.

His interest in classical music continued into his retirement, which he also filled with numerous trips to Russia, the destination for his first holiday abroad at the age of 80. He also enjoyed bowling and golf as well as walking his three dogs.

In April this year, he celebrated his 99th birthday at home with his family. Among his gifts were a new pipe; having taken it up at the age of 18 he was a pipe smoker for 81 years.

Mr Sudell died peacefully last Sunday morning after a brief illness. He leaves two daughters, Geraldine Samuel and Lydia Ridley, and one grandson, Matthew Ridley.

The funeral will take place at Lawnswood Crematorium on Thursday, May 8, at 2.20pm.