Barry Stocks, a former editor of the Lytham St Annes Express, has died.

The 63-year-old had battled against cancer for the last three years and died at the Trinity Hospice in Blackpool.

Barry had taken early retirement in 1992 after 13 years at the helm of the Lytham St Annes Express in order to fulfil his ambition to whitewater-raft the five great rivers of the American West with his wife Barbara.

He began his career on the Dewsbury Reporter at the age of 16, and after National Service with the RAF became the youngest-ever chief reporter on the Batley News.

He then joined the Blackpool Gazette, where he worked for eight years as a reporter before becoming editor of the Blackpool Journal.

In 1979 he was appointed editor of the Lytham St Annes Express, a post he held for 13 years before he took early retirement.

Barry is survived by Barbara and two sons from his first marriage, Russell and Ashley.

His funeral will take place on Friday, February 21, at 1.30 pm at St Joseph’s Church, Ansdell, Lytham St Annes.

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