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Award-winning writer who edited weekly for 20 years dies aged 66

David Morgan 1A motoring writer and former editor who led a weekly newspaper for 20 years has died aged 66.

Tributes have been paid to David Morgan, who edited the Forres Gazette between 1981 and 2001.

David, left, also worked for the Press & Journal, in Aberdeen, and the Northern Scot during his career, but had worked as a freelance since 2012.

He continued to edit the Motors North supplement circulated by Scottish Provincial Press, winning the Guild of Motoring journalist of the year award in 2015 for his work.

Alan Douglas, from the Guild of Motoring Writers, said: “I can’t even begin to count the hours, days, months and possibly years that I spent in cars on launches and test drives with David..

“Since the eighties we were regular driving partners – sometimes referred to as ‘Little and Large’ – and it helped that we spoke the same language, understood the same issues and shared a similar sense of humour.”

He added: “I shall miss his insight, his knowledge and his companionship, but not the waiting for him with the engine running as he had ‘one last cup of tea.'”

David,  who is survived by wife Rhona and their grown-up children Andrew and Helen and son in law John Moran, died suddenly at home on Friday 27 January.

Raised in Banff, Aberdeenshire, David joined the Royal Navy after leaving school to train as a pilot, but an accident in which he injured his back put paid to his flying career.

He worked as a reporter and sub-editor at the P&J before taking the Gazette’s editorship.

More recently David worked as news editor for the Northern Scot between 2001 and 2012 before setting up his own company DRM Media.

Moray Council communications spokesman Peter Jones said: “Very sorry to read of David Morgan’s passing. A true local journo that knew his patch and politics intimately, and always treated people, events, stories – and cars – objectively but with fairness”

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  • February 6, 2017 at 11:17 am
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    I was a frequent visitor to the Forres area during the years David was editor and always made a point of buying the Gazette. It was invariably a fascinating read. I never met him but his work was much appreciated.

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  • February 6, 2017 at 2:15 pm
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    Very sad to hear this. Dave was a sincere and decent fellow. Condolences

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