Award-winning regional journalist and broadcaster Jerry Clarke has died at his home in Redruth after suffering a stroke on a trip to America. He was 64.

Jerry began his journalism career on the West Briton at Truro before working for trade magazines in London.

He later moved onto the Western Morning News as a sub-editor and rugby reporter, covering Penryn and Redruth Albany.

In the late 1970s, Jerry became the sports editor of the Falmouth, Camborne-Redruth and Helston Packet newspapers.

As well as covering outdoor sports, he also gave extensive coverage to pub darts under the name of Tops.

His writing skills were recognised with a national award for his vivid account of the day that Cornish cricket giants Troon were knocked out of the national village cup by little Constantine.

Jerry moved away from print journalism in the 1980s after becoming the sports editor of BBC Radio Cornwall before moving on to Pirate FM.

He later returned to work for the West Briton in the late 1990s, becoming well-known for his other role in life – as tour guide for Cornish visitors to Tombstone, Arizona, after identifying a link between the two areas.

Jerry, who was a widower, is survived by his daughter and his partner Linda.

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