A former regional journalist who edited a series of Midlands titles during a near 30-year career has died at the age of 79.

John Bradbury joined the Birmingham Post as a sub-editor in 1961 and held a number of roles on the newspaper and its sister titles before retiring as editor of the Sunday Mercury in February 1990.

During his career he was also editor-in-chief of a series of weekly titles including the Solihull News and the now defunct Sandwell Mail.

John, who had suffered from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s for seven years before his death, died peacefully at a nursing home in Gloucestershire on New Year’s Day.

Former Birmingham Post colleague Paul Raymer worked with John for 20 years and said he was especially good at nurturing younger reporters, including BBC Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen.

Said Paul: “John was a journalist of the old school, and he was very good at encouraging people, especially younger members of staff.

“He was always very jovial and had a smile on his face and enjoyed a good relationship with editorial staff that continued through the years.”

Jack Reedy, Post editor from 1974 to 1982, added: “He was a tremendously able, thoughtful and imaginative person. He was very kind but didn’t get where he did by being a pushover, he was very shrewd.”

John lived in Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, before moving to Gloucestershire. He leaves wife Molly, two sons and daughter, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He was an active member of the National Union of Journalists, and carried out duties for the Newspaper Press Fund, now the Journalists’ Charity.

Prior to that he was also a national member of the Guild of Editors, now the Society of Editors. He worked for the Guild part time following his retirement.