A former weekly editor who went on to become managing director of his group of titles has died aged 85.

Rex Pardoe joined the Waltham Forest Guardian series as a cub reporter and rose to become editor and then MD.

His first job for the newspaper was interviewing the chairman of the Chingford Rabbit Club – on how to supplement meat rations.

He remained with the paper and its sister titles the Walthamstow Guardian and Epping Forest Guardian throughout his career before retiring as MD in 1989.

Rex pictured at his retirement presentation in 1989

Colleagues on the title, now owned by Newsquest, remembered Rex as a “true newspaper man whose wit could be as stinging as his occasional furies.”

Former Guardian sports editor John Burton described him as a “mentor and friend” who was a “true enthusiast for the job”.

A father-of-five, Rex opted to remain with the Guardian despite numerous calls from Fleet Street.

He said of his dedication to the paper: “I guess I just loved the job so much. We used to say we shouldn’t get paid for a job we loved doing.”

Rex, who died on 19 March, is survived by his wife of 65 years Lyn, a son and four daughters, 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

His funeral was held on Friday at the City of London Crematorium’s North Chapel.