The night editor of a regional daily has taken early retirement after almost 38 years with the newspaper.

Colleagues have paid tribute to Gordon Wilson, who joined the Derby Telegraph in August 1978 and also formerly held the posts of news editor, chief sub-editor and production editor.

During his time at the Local World title, 59-year-old Gordon oversaw production change from eight separate editions a day to its current single-edition morning paper and companion website.

Telegraph managing director Steve Hall said Gordon played a major role in managing the many characters in the newsroom, and ensuring “professionalism was maintained”.

Gordon, holding the frames, says farewell to his Telegraph colleagues

He told the paper: “We have waved goodbye to a first class journalist and an absolutely brilliant bloke who has made a fantastic contribution to the Derby Telegraph over more than three decades.

“When I returned to the Telegraph as editor, after spending 10 years working elsewhere, I was delighted and reassured to see Gordon in that night editor role.  He was a stickler for standards and would not let anything slip.”

Sports mad Gordon was well known among staff for his love of cricket, captaining the Telegraph’s team in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, Steve said Gordon’s passion was “nearly the cause of the strangest workplace injury recorded in Telegraph history” after he was challenged to bowl his best googly to ruler-wielding colleague Arthur Aston-Jones.

When the makeshift ball, a screwed-up page proof, was hurled in Arthur’s direction he over-balanced and fell, smashing his head on the desk.

Steve added: “The pair were mortified, thinking how they were going to explain Arthur’s concussion if he had to be taken to hospital and Gordon set about trying to revive his colleague with a hot drink.”

Arthur later recalled: “He must have been worried – it was the only time he ever bought me a coffee from the machine without asking for the 20p.”

The Telegraph’s education correspondent Zena Hawley began working at the paper the week before Gordon arrived in Derby.

She said: “At the time he had been in journalism for four years having worked somewhere before but he seemed so grown up as he was a senior.

“I recall he took me under his wing and took me to a huge murder trial that was happening at the time.

“I remember watching him in awe as he just seemed to know exactly what was going on and precisely how to write up that day’s copy.”

Gordon worked his last shift as night editor on Thursday, and was presented with farewell gifts of an iPad and a signed shirt of his favourite football team, Hull City AFC.

In an email to Telegraph staff, he said: “I just wanted to thank everyone for their overwhelming kindness and generosity – both for your contributions to such marvellous leaving presents which I received on my retirement and for the many kind messages and good wishes I have received in person, on my leaving card and via social media.

“I was, and am, hugely moved and the Derby Telegraph will have an indelible place in my heart and memories.”