FOR 30 years a strong friendship blossomed between staff at an Oxford landmark and a 'humble' author who would always carry a brown briefcase.

Employees at the Randolph Hotel in Beaumont Street were devastated to hear of the death of 'Inspector Morse' writer, Colin Dexter.

Sat in Mr Dexter's favourite armchair in the hotel's lounge, which looks out towards the Ashmolean Museum, general manager Michael Grange remembers the 'lovely gentleman, who was very dear to our hearts' that would frequent the hotel almost every day.

It was here that Mr Dexter would enjoy a glass of tonic water, slimline of course as he was diabetic, and would tuck into the hotel's special prawn cocktail.

Mr Grange,who has been at the hotel for 11 years, said: "I remember when I first met Colin, I felt very honoured and he was so nice and personable.

"He knew all the staff, and was very thoughtful.

"He also had a great memory. You would tell him something and then the next time he saw you he would always ask about it."

The relationship between Mr Dexter and the hotel took off after episodes of the Inspector Morse and Lewis TV series were filmed there.

And although throngs of Morse fans would descend upon the Randolph's steps from all over the world to see the famous Morse Bar and the man himself, Mr Grange said all the attention never went to the writer's head.

He said: "We had guests all the time asking about the Morse connection and if we introduced the guest to Colin he would always be just absolutely fantastic.

"He was so gracious and so lovely.

"If we ever had a special occasion at the hotel, like a big birthday or something, we would go out and buy one of Colin's books and he would always sign it for them and personalise a message.

"He did more than one could expect."

Mr Grange said although Mr Dexter would have business meetings in the building, he once told him coming to the hotel 'gave him inspiration.'

He added: "I think he quite liked people watching.

"If I knew he was coming I would always insist on booking a car to pick him up from his home.

"But he said he preferred to take the bus.

"Every time I tried to get a limousine to his house he refused, he was a very humble man."

But it was not just Mr Grange Mr Dexter built up a relationship with, he was also good friends with the bar manager of 33 years, Ailish Hurley.

Mr Grange added: "Ailish sadly passed away from cancer in 2005 and Colin wrote a really lovely plaque for her, which is still in the Morse bar.

"That was just the kind of guy he was."

The hotel plans to refurbish its Morse Bar, which was named after Mr Dexter's popular detective, in the autumn.

Mr Grange said: "We are going to to re-do all the photography on the walls and make sure we have the most up to date pictures and now obviously it is going to be even more important with his sad passing that we give it a lovely transformation."