I worked with Colin Kearley for ten years and I consider it to have been a privilege.

There are not many journalists who go about their job with such unrelenting cheerfulness but it wasn’t just that that made him such a popular and well- respected professional.

He really cared about the job, the paper and the patch it served. He made time for young, green reporters as well as not-so-young but just as green editors.

He never forced his opinion on you, but with a few quiet words and that renowned dry wit he would get his point across.

I wouldn’t say the job was everything to him, it was his family that meant the most and he cherished his time with them. But he also took his responsibility seriously and only knew one way to do the job – flat out.

You could never describe Col as a strapping lad. I doubt he tipped ten stone dripping wet and often he looked like his camera bag would topple him over. But within that small frame was a huge reserve of energy and enthusiasm and a big heart. Col, you will be sorely missed.

Editor, Gary Lawrence