Long-serving journalist Gordon Sampson has retired after almost 50 years working for the Halifax Courier and its sister weekly papers.

Over the years, his career has brought him into contact with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, football, rugby league and golfing personalities, voluntary organisations and royalty.

Gordon said: “It has been very enjoyable and exciting at times but the people I am going to miss most are those I have worked with all these years.”

Gordon joined the Brighouse Echo in July 1959, and two of his best sources of information at that time were his parents, Doris and Peter, who ran the town’s Black Bull pub for more than 20 years.

In the early 1960s he joined the Courier sports desk, where he was able to indulge his passion for speedway, and as deputy sports editor he regularly covered Halifax Town, Halifax Rugby League Club and the local cricket teams.

In 1981 he returned to the Brighouse Echo as associate editor and in 1987 he became editor of the paper.

In the early 1990s, Gordon was appointed special features editor at the Courier, editor of the Calderdale News and more recently head of arts and entertainment coverage.

In his spare time Gordon is a home visitor for the RSPCA and last year won an award for placing more pets with people than any other member.

He also enjoys playing golf and squash as well as ballroom and sequence dancing, is now looking forward to enjoying a break with his wife Viv and daughters Karina and Natasha.