A former regional press journalist who founded a breakaway journalists’ union has died aged 80.

Tributes have been paid to Steve Turner, left, who established British Association of Journalists in 1992 after being fired as the National Union of Journalists’ general secretary the previous year.

Steve began his journalism career on the Ilford Recorder and Romford Times before going freelance, and making the move to Fleet Street.

He went on to work as a sub-editor on the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror.

Steve was elected general secretary of the NUJ with a large majority in 1990 but, according to an obituary on the BAJ’s website, his “clear-headed vision did not meet with approval from left-wingers and he was ousted”.

In response he formed the rival union, recruiting many Mirror colleagues.

Janet Shields, current BAJ general secretary, said: “In the past year I have had many, many reasons to be grateful for the negotiation tactics that he formulated. I hope I can live up to his memory.”

In a piece for the Guardian’s website, Steve’s former Mirror colleague Roy Greenslade wrote: “I attempted to reconcile the NUJ and BAJ a couple of years ago without success. Steve and his committee decided against. Although I was disappointed, I wasn’t surprised. Steve was a man of rigid principle.

“It was that quality that made him far and away the most effective NUJ chapel negotiator I ever encountered. He was patient and diligent. He didn’t bluster or raise his voice. Even when provoked, he sought to control his temper.”

Steve was married to Mirror columnist Debbie Thomas, with whom he had a daughter called Rosie.

He also had three children from his previous marriage – Roy, Colin and Yvette.

Steve’s memorial service will be at the journalists’ church, St Bride’s, Fleet Street, on Thursday 15 September at 11.30am.