A former news and sports reporter who had an “illustrious career” on Welsh newspapers has died aged 73.

Tributes have been paid to Barry Walsh, pictured left, who spent his working life at various titles across the South West of Wales.

Born in Briton Ferry, near Swansea, he began his career at the Y Llais paper in Ystradgynlais, in Swansea Valley.

He later joined the Western Telegraph, running its district office in Pembroke Dock before transferring to Cardigan where he spent many years, latterly on the Telegraph’s sister paper the Tivy-Side Advertiser.

An obituary on the Advertiser’s website states: “Although essentially a news reporter his first love was sport in which he took a keen interest and had a vast knowledge of a cross section of activities, enjoying nothing more than covering Cardigan Rugby Club home games in the Pembrokeshire Championship.

“During an illustrious career he wrote many articles for national tabloids, covering countless stories which included the Operation Julie police investigation into production of LSD by two drugs rings in Ceredigion in the 1970s and the Operation Seal Bay investigation in north Pembrokeshire during the mid 1980s.

“Mr Walsh who retired a few years ago was of a quiet disposition, his friendly nature endearing him to people from all walks of life.”

Barry, who passed away on Friday, is survived by wife Elaine, daughter Emma of Cardiff, son Mathew, daughter-in-law Mari and grandchildren Osian, Mel and Steffan.

His funeral will be held on Friday with a Requiem Mass at the Lady of the Taper Catholic Church in Cardigan at 12pm followed by interment in the town cemetery.