Former newspaper editor John Berrill has died. He was 65.

John, who was editor of the Haverhill Echo for 21 years, died in hospital following a short illness.

He began his journalism career in 1953 at the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph, where he rose to become assistant editor and editor of an associated series of weekly papers.

In 1970 John became editor of the Haverhill Echo, where he worked for 21 years, before leaving the paper to become editor of the Suffolk Free Press.

Following his retirement in 1998 he also worked on the Bury Free Press and the Newmarket Journal.

As a journalist he enjoyed the virtues of simplicity and clarity and was an enthusiast for the proper use of language.

He leaves Pam, the mother of his three grown-up children Simon, Sally and Julian, two grandchildren, and Tessa Collins, his partner for the past 23 years.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail pastill@nep.co.uk