Ben Clingain, right, pictured in 1980 with Tony Boullemier, left, Marie Boullemier and Richard Pinkham

An “inspirational” newspaperman who pioneered one of the country’s sucessful free newspaper groups has died at the age of 68.

Ben Clingain, who helped set up the Northants Post in the 1970s, died after a heart attack last week in the United States.

A founder member of the Northants group,  he spent his career as advertising director there and was chairman of the Post when it launched in the county in 1975.

By the time they sold out to Thomson Regional Newspapers 13 years later, the group had grown to 11 titles with a combined circulation of 400,000 and employed 230 staff.

Former business partner Tony Boullemier who was the Post’s managing director said:  “It’s very sad news.

“Ben was an inspirational person to work with. His selling skills, sharp brain and unfailing optimism helped see us through difficult times against fierce opposition.”

Following the sale to TRN, Ben was made managing director of Thomson’s Peterborough centre before returning to manage Northampton in 1989. He left the company a year later and returned to his homeland of America.

He married and divorced twice and had four children and four grandchildren.

The Post is today published by Iliffe-owned LSN Media as the Northampton Herald & Post.