A former newspaper editor who spent half a century in journalism has died aged 99.

Robert Clough, who had been awarded the CBE for services to the newspaper industry, was just two months short of his 100th birthday.

During his career he edited The Journal in Newcastle, helped the paper achieve the highest circulation of any provincial morning paper in the country at the time, and later became managing director of Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Ltd.

After retiring in 1968 he also wrote the book A Public Eye, which told of his long and distinguished career.

He began his career as a junior reporter in Northumberland after leaving school at 15, and joined Newcastle’s Evening Chronicle as a reporter in 1928.

He then moved to the North Mail, where he became chief sub-editor, and when The Journal and the North Mail merged in 1939 he was appointed assistant editor.

Robert became editor of The Journal in 1946, and was appointed managing editor in 1954 and managing director of Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Ltd four years later.

After the company was bought by the Thomson group Robert travelled the world to find new machinery and processes to help improve newspaper production efficiency.

He also helped design and plan Thomson House in Newcastle’s Groat Market, which now houses The Journal, Evening Chronicle and Sunday Sun.

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