Every so often we publish a story on HoldtheFrontPage – usually a retirement story or an obituary – which reveals the depth of affection in which some journalists are held by their former colleagues.

Such an example is Alan Goode, whose death at the age of 72 was reported on the site earlier this week.

It is usual in these case for one or two former colleagues to send us their reminiscences but in Alan’s case, there has been a veritable outpouring

And the fact that so many of them are regional editors and former editors tells its own story.

Quoted in the orginal story were Mike Lowe, who edited the Bristol Evening Post from 1997-2005, and current editors Philip Welch (Wells Journal, Mid Somerset News and Media),  Steve Egginton (Mendip Times), and Andy Gough (Iliffe Digital).

Terry Manners, who edited the Western Daily Press under Alan, emailed to ask if he could be included and his comments have now been duly added in.

Meanwhile further tributes in the comments box have come from current editors Kevin Booth (Burton Mail), Kevan Blackadder (Gloucestershire Echo) and Ian  Mean (The Citizen, Gloucester) and former editors Derek Tucker (Press and Journal, Aberdeen), Andy Wright (Western Daily Press and Shropshire Star) and Alan Cooper (The Herald, Plymouth).

I never had the evident good fortune of having worked with Alan, but this was clearly a man with a huge influence on our industry and the people still working within it.