A former assistant editor who spent more than 30 years working for a weekly newspaper series has died at the age of 93.

Former Worthing Gazette reporter Joan Humphrey became assistant editor of the Arun Gazette after rising through the ranks at Beckett Newspapers, the former publisher of the Herald and Gazette series in West Sussex.

She started as a junior reporter, writing a column about women’s activities, and went on to become a fully fledged reporter and later a sub-editor and assistant editor, remaining there until her retirement in 1981.

Tributes have been paid to her following her death last Thursday.

Neta Morris, who was a friend of Joan for 40 years, told the West Sussex Gazette: “I loved Joan. I became more than a friend, I have seen her through bad times and I have always been there for her.

“She really enjoyed life. She loved holidays, she loved embroidery and she enjoyed her work so much.”

Joan became friends with Neta after visiting a pub owned by Neta’s mother-in-law to search for stories and they ended up living in the same block of flats, while they also went on holidays together.

Joan’s column was originally penned under the name “Felicity” but she later challenged her editor about why it could not be written under her real name.

When Joan retired from journalism, the papers, which are now owned by Johnston Press, featured an interview with her about her career, in which she said she had loved being a journalist.

At the time, she said: “Bringing out a newspaper every week is like having a baby every seven days. It’s a non-stop business.”

On her retirement, Joan was presented with a bicycle, suitcase and other gifts.

She was also a keen church-goer and received a special medal from the Pope, acknowledging her faith.

Since her retirement, Joan had suffered health problems particularly with her ability to walk, and she was living in a nursing home when she died.