A Derbyshire Times newsroom veteran has died aged 81.

Ben Haslam worked there for 30 years, joining as a reporter, then becoming a sub-editor and then features editor, writing his own TV and theatre columns.

He began his career in journalism after serving with the Eighth Army in Italy and North Africa during the war, starting work at the Crosby Herald.

He later worked for the Derby Evening Telegraph and the Nottingham Evening News before moving to the Chesterfield title.

He was a founder member of St Hugh’s Church in Littlemoor and also chairman of the Chesterfield branch of the Australia and New Zealand Transatlantic Friends and Families Association.