A daily newspaper’s “outstanding” former golf correspondent and sports editor has died aged 80.

Tributes have been paid to Ian Wood, who spent forty years working at The Scotsman and continued to write a popular weekly column for the Edinburgh-based title after his retirement.

Ian, pictured below, first joined The Scotsman in 1954 as a production journalist following National Service, and rose to the rank of sports editor.

He later served as golf correspondent, following in the footsteps of colleague Norman Mair, who died last month.

Donald Walker, assistant editor of The Scotsman, said: “Ian combined outstanding sportswriting with the art of the classic humorist, which made his work light up the pages of The Scotsman over several decades.

“His Monday column was often the first article in the entire newspaper that many readers would turn to, while others saved it for last. It was loved dearly by so many.

“His writing formed an important part of the identity of The Scotsman, and when he filed his last column a few years ago, his style was irreplaceable.

“Ian was also an inspiration. As a boy, I wanted to be able to write like Ian Wood. Some hope!

“Working with him, eventually, was a pleasure. He was a perfect gentleman, and wonderful, entertaining company.”

Following his retirement in 1994, Ian continued to contribute his weekly column ‘The Last Word’ for 17 years.

Golf broadcaster Renton Laidlaw said: “He was a quality writer who over the years held various jobs for The Scotsman and did all of them very well.

“Latterly, of course, he wrote ‘The Last Word’, a weekly column, that was admired by so many people.

“Indeed, there were a lot of very disappointed people around when Ian decided to stop it. He always managed to find something to write about and did so both elegantly and amusingly.

“I am sure that Ian would have been very pleased with his career. He was an extremely understanding sports editor, one that reporters enjoyed working for.

“He was such a nice fellow and was great company, having so many good stories to tell.

“Ian was very intelligent but was modest with the whole thing.”

Ian passed away on Boxing Day after a long illness.