David Browne, a former journalist at The Citizen in Gloucester, has died aged 64.

He had worked at The Citizen for 43 years, before retiring in 1999.

Since then he had suffered a series of health setbacks and, after being diagnosed with cancer a year ago, had even written his own obituary notes.

David joined The Citizen in 1956 under the editorship of Geoffrey Robertson and served under six subsequent editors.

He mastered almost every job on the editorial floor, including news reporter, feature writer, sub-editor in two different technologies, and advertising copywriter.

Veteran Citizen reporter, Hugh Worsnip, said: "I have known David since I was ten years old, because we were at school together.

"I learned a lot from David by listening to him interviewing people. He got the information he required by polite persistence and careful preparation.

"He never needed to check a point, because he had already covered every detail first time. He was brilliantly organised."

David is survived by his wife, Trudy, his two married daughters, Emma and Rebecca, and one granddaughter.

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