A former regional journalist who went on to work for publications across the globe has died in St Lucia at the age of 58.

Bruce McDonald retrained as a journalist at the Humberside Newsline Press and PR agency in Hull owned by his friend Brian Lavery, following a career as a printer.

The two journalists became business partners and launched the ill-fated Town Magazine, which folded within two years, before Bruce went on to work for the Sheffield Star as a sub-editor in the early 1990s.

He then moved on to hold journalism roles around the world, including Tanzania, Lebanon, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, before moving to the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

Bruce died in hospital on the island on 31 March following a short illness.

While in St Lucia, he lived on a boat and worked as a newspaper and magazine journalist, including at the St Lucia Star, and was latterly writing for and editing international yachting publications and websites.

Bruce is pictured at his home in Rodney Bay Marina for an article he had written on sea fishing.

Brian, who is now a writer and university tutor in Hull, said: “Bruce was, more than anything else, a fine, loyal friend whom I was pleased to have known. He truly knew how to treat the impostors of triumph and disaster exactly the same.

“As young men our friendship was forged in adversity, when we were naïve and brave enough to think our journalistic talent would equate to business success. We lost money, but we gained a lot too. We helped each other then and have done so since across the years.

“His life may have been shorter than many, but it was more interesting than most. He was a sharp, fun, witty, intelligent man, whose ability to enjoy life was almost equal to his great talents.”

Rick Wayne, editor and publisher of the St Lucia Star, added: “When Bruce worked here he was loved by all who came into contact with him. He will be missed.”

Bruce’s career included working for Tanzania’s The Guardian, where he became deputy editor, Lebanon’s The Daily Star as chief sub-editor, editor of The Gulf Today in the United Arab Emirates and editor of two international print industry magazines in Singapore and Australia.

He also helped launch a daily paper as a consultant editor in Auckland, New Zealand.

Bruce leaves wife Carol and daughter Sally.