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Murdered cameraman began career at Evening Star

Tributes have been paid by former regional press colleagues to journalist Simon Cumbers, who was murdered by terrorists in Saudi Arabia at the weekend.

He began work as a reporter but retrained later in his career to become a cameraman – the job which took him to Riyadh with the BBC, where he was shot dead in an attack on his crew.

His first job in journalism was at the Ipswich Evening Star, which he joined in 1988 as a feature writer.

He progressed into broadcasting as a TV and radio journalist, before retraining as a news cameraman.

Sub-editor Judy Rimmer told Evening Star readers: “He was somebody who was always ready to tackle any job.

“He was a very charming character, definitely had the gift of the gab and had a great sense of humour.”

She remembered him as being cheerful, enthusiastic and full of laughter.

Simon died filming a report about increasing fear among workers in Saudi Arabia following the murder of 22 people a week earlier.

Further tributes to Simon, and BBC correspondent Frank Gardner, who was seriously injured in the attack, have been paid by colleagues and politicians, including Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

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