A long-serving reporter of the Royston Crow has died, aged 82.

Debbie Hawkins, who was a reporter there for ten years and then a district correspondent for a further 20 on her retirement, had suffered from cancer.

Editor Les Baker said: "She was for many years the Crow's ambassador in south Cambridgeshire and in that time she gained respect from a wide range of people in the community."

Despite her worsening condition, she continued to work up until six months before her death.

Les added: "Although we knew of her illness it is still a shock when a life such as hers comes to an end."

Debbie began her career in journalism just 30 years ago, after working as a copy typist and then organising the typing pool for a local council.

She joined the Crow as a copy typist but achieved her ambition to become a reporter and soon joined the newsroom to begin covering the patch that she kept for the rest of her life.

The paper received tributes from a number of parish councils, local bodies, clubs and groups when Debbie's death was announced.

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