Former Bristol Observer editor Pat Randall has died after a long battle with cancer.

The 60-year-old had spent 17 years as editor before deciding to retire when he was taken ill in 2002.

An experienced regional journalist, Pat joined the Observer from the rival Dursley Gazette series, and soon set about improving the local news content.

Having cut his teeth on weekly broadsheets, he was a great believer in no-nonsense journalism, based firmly on local people, places and events, and one of his greatest achievements was the launch of a new Observer edition in Stroud.

Introduced to fight off a new publication from a rival newspaper group, it hit the streets just two weeks after the initial decision to expand, and he later helped launch editions in Clevedon and Nailsea.

Pat was also instrumental in steering the Observer through the switch-over to new technology, and he established a successful training programme for young reporters who were keen on progressing through sister titles the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press.

Simon Harding, Pat's long-term deputy and successor, said: "Although Pat had been forced to take early retirement from the Bristol Observer, he had taken on further journalistic projects and had high hopes of enjoying a full retirement.

"He was a fantastic and considerate editor to work for and will be greatly missed by all the people who had the pleasure of working with him."

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