A journalist whose career spanned 55 years has died at the age of 77, two years after he retired.

Ted Kidd worked as a journalist in Aberdeen for his whole career after starting out working for DC Thomson in the city in 1956, writing for titles including The Courier, People’s Journal, The Weekly News and Sunday Post.

He then moved to work for the Sunday Mail in 1963 and then its sister title the Daily Record, before leaving in 1988 and going freelance, where he covered all 180 days of an inquiry into the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster.

Tributes have been paid following Ted’s death on Monday.

Ted is pictured before his retirement at the Grampian Media Ball. Pic by Kate Sutherland.

Lord Provost of Aberdeen, George Adam, told the Daily Record: “Ted was well-known in the Town House and reported on proceedings here for many years.

“He was a dedicated professional who was well-respected and provided a fantastic service not only to the media and the public, but also to the council through his accurate and interesting reporting.”

Ted covered some of the most dramatic events in Scotland, including Aberdeen’s typhoid outbreak in 1964, the Fraserburgh lifeboat tragedy in 1970, the Maxwell Garvie murder case and the Royal pardon for safecracker Paddy Meehan.

By chance, he and photographer John Harries were at the scene of the Fraserburgh lifeboat disaster in January 1970 when all five crew died, after deciding on a quiet news day to head there.

Ted was also proud of being the only journalist to cover the full 180-day inquiry into the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster, which claimed 167 lives in 1988.

He was made a life member of the National Union of Journalists in 2008 after serving as welfare officer of the Grampian branch and a special reception was held in Aberdeen in 2011 to mark his retirement.

Ted leaves partner Chris and he was father to Janette, Elaine, Teresa, Eddie and the late Sandra.