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Tributes to photographer who returned to old paper

Tributes have been paid to a former regional daily chief photographer who has died aged 76.

Ken Stobbs began his career as a 16-year-old runner for the Shields Gazette in the 1950s, before returning there as chief photographer 30 years later.

His interest in photography was fostered by his early work at the Gazette, rushing photographic film from football matches and other sporting events for processing at the paper.

By the mid-to-late 1950s he was working as a freelance photographer in Fleet Street – but the call of his home region beckoned and from the early 1970s onwards he worked as a press photographer for the Shields Gazette’s sister titles, the Shields Weekly News, at North Shields, and the Whitley Bay Guardian.

Transferring to the Gazette in the 1980s, he became chief photographer and remained there until his retirement in 1996.

Away from work he was a keen canoeist and walker and also enjoyed foreign travel.

Tim Richardson, the current chief photographer of the Gazette who worked with Mr Stobbs for eight years, said: “Ken was a thoroughly professional and inspirational photographer who was a pleasure to work with.

“He had a marvellous sense of humour, a really dry wit. He will be remembered with much affection by those who worked with him.”

Mr Stobbs, whose funeral took place on Tuesday, leaves a daughter, Emma, and a grandson, Matthew.

Comments

Murray Kelso (03/06/2010 09:27:01)
I was still at school when I worked with Ken on work experience at the Gazette for a few weeks. Even after I had finished he would teach me a little about film developing and he got me started with my own home darkroom.
He was a thoroughly nice chap and my condolences go to his friends and family.
Murray Kelso, former Shields Gazette crime reporter

Kie Miskelly (04/06/2010 10:51:34)
I was editor of the Shields Gazette when I took Ken from the Shields Weekly News to become chief photographer of the Gazette. He really did have a great sense of humour and dry wit but he was first and foremost a great photographer. My thoughts are with his family

John Knighton (04/06/2010 16:29:48)
I had the pleasure of working with Ken at the Shields and Wallsend Weekly News when I started out as a fresh-faced reporter. He was always enthusiatic and ever-helpful. A lovely man. My condolences to his family.