An award-winning former journalist renowned for her “feisty, no-nonsense character” has died aged 70.

Rosemary Braithwaite left school with just one ‘O’-level but went on to enjoy a long career in the regional press including 26 years on the Kentish Gazette.

She retired from the full time business in 2000 but continued to write a weekly column for the KM Group-owned title for several years.

Rosemary was diagnosed with cancer last November and despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she passed away at the Pilgrims Hospice in Margate.

Her career highlights included winning the Shepherd Neame Kent Journalist of the Year Award in 1992 and the BT Southern Press Awards Weekly Journalist of the Year in 1994.

In 1999 she collected another award from Shepherd Neame for leading the Gazette’s campaign to save the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, in which Rosemary personally presented a dossier to 10 Downing Street.

Donations in memory of Rosemary can be made to Cancer Research via her JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/Rosemary-Saltmarsh.