An editor who spent almost four decades with a weekly newspaper has died aged 59 just a few months after leaving the title.

Tributes have been paid to Tony Short, left, who worked for the Farnham Herald for 38 years before leaving in October.

Tony had served as editorial manager form more than a decade at the time of his departure.

He had fought a short battle with cancer before his death last month at the Rowan’s Hospice, in Waterlooville.

Sir Ray Tindle, proprietor of Herald owner Tindle Newspapers, said: “Tony Short was a long-serving member of the Herald editorial team and occupied the chair at a most important time. We are very sorry to lose him and send sincere condolences to his family.”

Tony grew up in Midhurst, Sussex, and Petersfield, Hampshire, and trained at Highbury College, in Portsmouth.

He joined the Herald in 1980 as a news reporter, and quickly became a court specialist.

Tony was based at Farnham for several years until the late 1980s when Robin Radley, then-editor, agreed to move him to the Alton Herald.

He enjoyed a long spell at Alton until, in the early 1990s, the Herald abandoned typewriters and went computerised.

Returning to Farnham as a sub-editor, he was later promoted to chief sub under the editorship of Sandy Baker.

When Sandy left over a decade ago Sir Ray appointed Tony as editorial manager.

Scott Wood, South East and group operations managing director at Tindle Newspapers Ltd, said: “I remember saying to Tony when we first met that editing the Farnham Herald was I’m sure a great challenge – of which he just gave me a wry smile.

“He was a very private man but I knew he cared greatly about his colleagues.”

Tony is  survived by his brother Michael and sister Lucy.