A former regional press photographer who raised thousands of pounds for charity has died from cancer at the age of 63.

Robin Humphreys, described by colleagues as ‘always positive,’ worked for Archant title the Tottenham and Wood Green Journal during the 1980s.

He died last month from spine cancer and kidney failure following a long battle with ill-health at the Marie Curie Hospice in Hampstead.

During his career  he chronicled events in  Westminster and Haringey as well as and national events, including the first additions to the Wetherspoons pub chain by Muswell Hill entrepreneur Tim Martin.

He helped illustrate countless stories for the Hornsey Journal and in his spare time raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities, in particular the Hornsey Centre for Handicapped Children, the pioneer charity for autistic children now known as The London Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy.

He later became a trustee of the charity and was also a staunch supporter of the local British Legion, the Police Memorial Trust and the annual Hornsey Carnival.

Current Journal photographer Tony Gay, said: “We had a few laughs then. He was a good bloke, and big on charity work. He was well-known in the community, and you could rely on him to have a drink in the pub.”