Former regional press photographer Patrick Hember has died. He was 83.

Known as Paddy, he had worked on several newspapers in the Buckinghamshire and West London area, including the Buckinghamshire Advertiser where he was chief photographer.

He had also worked for the Gazette series based in Uxbridge, and in later years he became a well-respected wedding photographer.

Former colleague Dave Marriott said he remembered covering the opening of Gerrards Cross Fire Station, in Tatling End, with Patrick.

During the ceremony, the fire crews were called out to an incident and the two photographers decided to follow the fire engines along the A40 - only to find it was Patrick's own house that was on fire.

Dave said: "I took a picture of him standing in his back garden with his house on fire in the background. What a great guy."

Born in London, Patrick spent his early years in Ireland before returning to the capital in the 1940s, and held a number of jobs including shoemaker and mechanic before becoming a photographer.

His son Sean, (48), who lived with his father, said: "He certainly was a character.

"He later had trouble walking and got a motorised scooter - he made a lot of use of that. He was always complaining it wouldn't go fast enough."

A widow, Patrick leaves sons Sean, Jim and Danny, and daughter Lila.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 26, at noon, at Breakspear Crematorium in Ruislip.

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