A “one-off” weekly newspaper editor has died aged 51 after long battles with multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

Tributes have been paid to Rob Jones, left, who edited Welsh language weekly Y Cymro.

Rob, who was also deputy editor of the North Wales Chronicle in the 1990s, died on the evening of Wednesday 8 August at a nursing home at Brynsiencyn, Anglesey.

The father-of-two has been described by a former colleague as “ruthless in seeking the truth”.

Emlyn Roberts, former editor of the Chronicle and North Wales Pioneer, said: “Rob Jones was a one-off. Rob could delight, surprise and frighten you all within the space of a minute.

“We became friends the first time we met and never looked back, although he spent most of the time cursing me in many different languages. No holding back Rob could swear. However, he was an extremely clever man and astonished his colleagues with his knowledge of difficult subjects.

“His work as young reporter was always of a high standard and he was ruthless in seeking the truth. Rob became my deputy editor and we had tough, but enjoyable times producing three editions of the Chronicle at Bangor. Rob thrived under the pressure and he worked and played hard.

“Rob was soon promoted and became editor of the Welsh language newspaper Y Cymro. A very difficult and important role which he handled superbly well. His knowledge of the Welsh language had to be at the highest level, but Rob was also fluent in French and he was rightly proud of his dual heritage. His loyalties tested when Wales played France at rugby. But his favourite times were when an English team lost at anything.”

Emlyn added: “A guitarist with a local band Celt for a time, Rob loved his hard rock – Kiss and Motley Crue were played loud and long into the night. Rob had to endure many problems in his personal life and then suffered a chronic and painful disease. It was a raw deal.”

Katie Davies, the mother of Rob’s son Thomas, said: “Rob will be a big loss to his son, he wasn’t only Thomas’s dad he was his best friend, his hero, his inspiration.

“Thomas was very proud of his dad for fighting the fight he fought for so long, but now he can rest in peace. He will be dearly missed and forever loved.”

Celt drummer Alwyn Jones said: “He will be very sadly missed by a lot of people. He had lots of friends. I have many happy memories of playing with him in the band, and I remember when we were asked to go and play in Brittany, France. They were great times.

“He was such a cool dude on the bass. His skill and talent at playing the bass shines through so many of the bands songs. He was a proper rocker and he won’t be forgotten.”

Rob’s funeral was held at Bangor Crematorium at midday on Friday 17 August.