Tributes have been paid to a former weekly editor whose campaigning helped pay for a town’s lifeboat.

Barry Hartley, who died earlier this week aged 74, was editor of the Lowestoft Journal from 1985 until his retirement in 2002.

Among his achievements was leading a campaign in the 1980s to raise £450,000 to enable the Royal National Lifeboat Institution to purchase the ‘Spirit of Lowestoft’ lifeboat.

Under his leadership the newspaper also won numerous awards included being named the regional weekly Newspaper of the Year in 2001 by the Newspaper Society.

Former colleague Terry Reeve said: “I was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Barry Hartley.

“He was a kind and compassionate editor who led by example. Barry cared for his staff and readers alike and led the Lowestoft Journal through one of its most successful periods.”

Barry was also a keen Rotarian and in recent years was a director of the Lowestoft Air Show.

He leaves a wife, Jackie, and daughter Cheryl. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.