Friends and colleagues are in shock following the sudden death of a former Derbyshire Times photographer.

John Smith, 49, was watching his youngest son, Sam, play football at cubs when he suffered a massive brain haemorrhage.

He was rushed to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where he died later that evening.

Mr Smith began his career with the Derbyshire Times as a junior photographer – following in the footsteps of his father Reg and grandfather Joe who were both chief reporters on the paper.

After spending ten years at the Times, he moved to the Sheffield Star where he also spent ten years.

His moment of glory came when he received a national award for a picture of Arthur Scargill giving a Hitler-style salute during the miners’ strike.

Later he started his own business at Norton Boarding Kennels which he combined with training greyhounds for racing.

Daughter Nicola, 26, who is the fourth generation of the Smith family to work at the Derbyshire Times, said: “The whole family is absolutely devastated.

“My dad will be greatly missed by his wife Jane, his five children and all who knew him.”

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