A features editor who “shone a light through some of the darkest days” of his newspaper’s patch has died aged 91.

Tributes have been paid to Tom Carson, left, who worked for the Belfast Telegraph for 35 years between the 1960s and 1990s.

A member of the National Union of Journalists, Tom took a lead role in the prolonged strike of Belfast Telegraph journalists in the 1970s.

He served as features editor at the Bel Tel at the height of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, working under editors including John E. Sayers, Eugene Wason and Roy Lilley.

Roy told the Bel Tel: “Tom had a sensitive feel for language and an acute ability to spot writers who could light up a sentence or a paragraph with a single word or phrase.

“He was a man of ideas who put a premium on accuracy and detail, and he appreciated the virtues of research and determination.”

Edmund Curran, who worked as a feature writer for Tom and later edited the paper, added: “He shone a light through some of the darkest days in Northern Ireland.

“He developed and expanded the features pages of the paper with insight and with investigations of the Troubles. He was also a craftsman of newspaper design, and a most creative journalist.”

Born in Belfast on 7 February 1928, his father was chief telegraphist at the Bel Tel and his mother was a nurse who had served during the First World War.

Tom learned his trade at small East Midlands weeklies in the early 1950s, but later returned to Northern Ireland and spent the rest of his career with the Telegraph.

Former colleague Louis McConnell said: “Tom was a brilliant journalist and features editor. He was simply a kind man and a good friend.”

His son, journalist Steve Carson, added: “I was told by Seamus Heaney that my dad was one of the first people to publish one of his poems. He used to take a keen interest in the arts scene, and wrote theatre reviews and other material, and was supportive of the emerging generation of Ulster poets, writers and artists.

“He was mentioned in James Ellis’ book Over The Bridge. Dad had a management role but during the Battle of the Bogside he was sent to Derry at short notice and filed a colour piece where he spotted a wedding taking place during the mayhem. Capturing love, hope and commitment during a riot was very much my dad.”

Tom’s first wife Patricia died in 1973, and later married Kathleen.

He is survived by three children from his first marriage – Steve, Linda and Carol, as well as Kathleen, his stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.