A former editor of two regional sister dailies who also worked in the national press has died aged 72.

Tributes have been paid to Rod Kiddell, left, ex-editor of the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star, who has died suddenly at his Ipswich home.

Rod joined the EADT in the early 1960s, and spent a total of 25 years with current owner Archant’s forerunner Eastern Counties Newspapers.

He was appointed editor of the Star following the retirement of Tony Pyatt in 1978, and later also took on the EADT before assuming the role of group editorial director.  He retired in 1988.

Terry Hunt, current editor of both titles, said: “All of Rod’s former colleagues were very saddened to learn of his sudden death.

“He was one of my first bosses, and was always very supportive, measured, and understanding. He was, clearly, also a very good journalist.

“Only a few weeks ago, my wife Jane and I had a lengthy car journey with Rod on our way to and from an event in north Norfolk.

“It gave us the opportunity to chat with him away from work, and really get to know the loving family man he was.”

Rod also spent some time with Express Newspapers, before returning to Suffolk to become editorial director for Sirius Media, which produces puzzles for national and regional media companies.

He is the second former editor of the EADT to die this year following the loss of Ken Rice in May.

Tony Pickering, managing director of Sirius, said: “The sudden loss of a close colleague has come as a terrible shock to everyone in the company. Although Rod was seriously ill in December last year, he survived several weeks in intensive care and responded well to the ongoing treatment.

“In April he returned to light work, and he was always itching to get back involved in a bigger way. Journalism was his lifeblood, and he could never entertain the thought of retirement.

“Rod was one of the kindest, courteous and most generous men it is possible to imagine. He was supportive and encouraging to everyone on the staff, although he never lost the keen eye of the top-class sub-editor he had always been.

“I feel privileged to have worked closely with him for the last ten years of his life.”

Rod is survived by a widow, Judy, and a son, Tim.