A former south coast reporter who once felt the sharp side of Oliver Hardy’s tongue has died aged 81.

Gilbert Grevett started his journalism career in 1943 and spent nearly half a century with Southern Newspapers.

He worked as the Daily Echo’s North Dorset correspondent for 38 years after stints in Southampton, Bournemouth and Poole.

His wife of 56 years Elizabeth told the Echo: “He was a perfectionist. When he retired, we had to change the phone number twice – the police would ring him because his knowledge of the people in North Dorset was so great.

“People loved his ‘Stour Notes’ column. They were little features on life around the River Stour. It would be otters one week, and something totally different the next.”

In a farewell piece in 1990 Gilbert recalled a frosty encounter at the Bournemouth Hippodrome with the legendary American comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.

He wrote: “When I was taken backstage to meet Laurel and Hardy I was given a very cold reception and when I was introduced to the funny men, they were far from funny – they were downright rude.”

But the terseness of Oliver Hardy, who told Gilbert to “Go away”, was forgotten when they took to the stage, reducing him to fits of laughter.

Gilbert covered the fire at Blandford Camp military base in 1952, and was detained in the guardhouse for his trouble, before being released by the commanding officer with many apologies.

Away from the newsroom he was a former county tennis champion and league table tennis player up until six months before his death.

Gilbert is survived by his wife Jean, son Martin and two grandchildren, Stephen and Elizabeth.

Comments

agedhackette (21/04/2009 10:32:47)
Unlike the loyal Gilbert that good old patronising standby “stalwart” will never die; just reside at the lazy hacks rest home for eternity.