A journalist described by colleagues as “old school” and “a bit of a rebel” has died, aged 75.

Elvin J Derrick worked on his hometown paper the Exmouth Chronicle and the Express & Echo in Exeter, before moving into broadcasting.

A life member and staunch NUJ supporter, Elvin wrote and illustrated a magazine for his primary school and, according to his widow Patricia, had wanted to be a journalist from the age of nine.

He died at his home in Norfolk where he had moved after going to work for Anglia TV in the 70s.

Elvin first landed a job in the profession of his dreams in 1954, when he joined the Exmouth Chronicle as a junior reporter, aged sixteen.

He remembered with glee falling through the floorboards of a house while interviewing an elderly couple – he was unhurt and they were delighted because it meant they could finally get their errant landlord to do some much-needed repairs.

Seven years on the Chronicle was followed by a brief spell with the Express & Echo in Exeter before he was invited to join Westward Television in Plymouth and appointed news editor of the magazine programme “Westward Diary” in 1962.

At the time, aged 24, he was the youngest television news editor in Britain.

He moved to Norwich in 1973 as news editor of Anglia Television where he served as Father of the Chapel and remained there until retirement.

The NUJ said Elvin earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues, one of whom described him as “a remarkable professional, much admired for his calm and unflappable approach while the rest of us indulged in TV histrionics”.

As well as Patricia, Elvin leaves a son Eden, daughter Hannah and grandson Edward.