An editor known for the “guidance and wisdom” he provided to journalists who worked for him has died aged 95.

Tributes have been paid to Tommy Roycroft, known to some as TJR, who edited the Northern Constitution.

Tommy, pictured, spent the “best part of half a century” working in the regional press in Northern Ireland.

Under his leadership, the Coleraine-based Constitution had for many years the largest certified circulation of any weekly newspaper in the province.

Former colleague Maurice McAleese said in an obituary for the Irish News: “He brought meticulous and consummate skills to the profession, graced by his presence and influence for the best part of half a century.

“He was widely respected and admired not only for his journalistic abilities but also for his many qualities of grace and nature, not least of which was a pleasant and engaging personality that shone through everything he did.

“I first got to know him while learning the ropes as a junior reporter more years ago now than I care to remember.

“He took the time, always in a kindly and encouraging way, to polish the rough edges off my early attempts at acquiring some degree of proficiency in the skills of newspaper reporting. Invariably he was generous in his praise and encouragement and gentle in his criticism.

“I was not the only young journalist who benefited from his guidance and advice over the years. Many went on to make their mark in daily newspapers and broadcasting outlets at both local and national levels so it would not be an exaggeration to say that as a journalist, Tommy Roycroft was not only gifted but also inspirational.”

Maurice went on to note that Tommy “possessed shorthand and typing skills of a high calibre”.

He added: “Such was the quality of his shorthand note-taking that frequently he would be asked by solicitors and barristers to provide them with verbatim reports of complicated court cases involving finely balanced legal arguments of which they needed to have an accurate record.

“I knew him also as a man of deep faith and conviction, widely read and with an interest in theology, sensitive to the needs and feelings of others, charitable and generous almost to a fault. Of him it could be truly said that he was “kindly in thought, courteous in word and generous in deed.”

“He had a nice sense of wit and humour, never offensive, which he carried easily and it underpinned many of the well-rounded stories he told of his experiences in the course of his long and fruitful career. To have come under the guidance and wisdom of someone like him not only in the early years of my own journalistic path but also for a long time afterwards, was a privilege and a blessing.

“Outside the work environment Tommy had a larger-than-life persona and here again I have only happy memories of the good-natured humour, big heartedness and fair mindedness which were the hallmarks of his character and personality.”

In his latter years Tommy struggled with Parkinson’s and was lovingly cared for by his wife Margaret.

He died on 13 March.