An “ever-dependable” editor who worked on a number of different weekly newspapers has died aged 80.

Tributes have been paid to Ted Parratt, left, who edited the Farnham Diary up until three years ago.

Ted, a former radio and television engineer, became a journalist after completing an Open University degree in 1974, initially serving as technical editor on Practical Wireless and Wireless World magazine.

He later switched to local journalism, and took up the post of chief sub-editor of the Farnham Herald from 1983 until the early 1990s.

Ted worked on the Surrey and Hants News and spent time with Berkshire Press, producing the Surrey Advertiser and Esher News.

He was asked in 2002 by Tindle Newspapers owner Sir Ray Tindle to help produce his tabloid papers including the Alton Diary, and worked as editor on the monthly Farnham Diary from 2004 – with his wife Jean serving as chief reporter and researcher.

Former Herald editor Robin Radley said: “When the work pressure was on Ted was ever-dependable.

“He and Jean were very entertaining in their knowledge of Farnham, its people and its history and Ted liked nothing better than talking fondly of his family.”

Ted stopped editing the diary due to ill-health in June 2015, and Jean died in October 2016 after 60 years of marriage.

He died peacefully at home last month, and is survived by children Wendy and Mark, their spouses, six adult grandchildren and great-grandson Theo.