Bob Stockton, a former editorial director of Ackrill Newspapers in Yorkshire, has died aged 91.

He began his journalism career as a reporter on the short-lived Harrogate Journal.

On leaving the paper he and a business partner set up a news agency, which continued until the Second World War when he was commissioned in the Royal Artillery.

He joined Ackrill Newspapers after the war and two years later was made editor of the group, with responsibility for nine titles.

He was president of the Guild of Editors in 1964-65 and retired from newspapers in 1977, although he still continued as a freelance for a time.

He leaves a widow, Pauline, to whom he was married for almost 20 years.

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