A charity appeal has been launched in memory of regional press “legend” Mike Lowe as tributes continue to pour in following his death aged 68.

The former editor of Gloucester daily The Citizen, the Derby Telegraph, the Bristol Post and Cotswold Life died last Wednesday after a short illness.

Now, a campaign launched by Mike’s former Cotswold Life colleague Ceri McQueen has raised more than £1,000 for six foodbanks – Cirencester, Stroud, Cheltenham, North Cotswold, Gloucester and Tewkesbury.

In a post on a JustGiving page set up for donations, Ceri described Mike as a “family man, a friend and to the unsuspecting PR intern sending out their first email, a force to be reckoned with”.

Mike in his heyday as editor of the Bristol Post, which he ran from 1996 until 2005.

Posting on Twitter, Ceri added: “Mike, you were so incredibly special to me. You were monumental in my early career, with your sharp wit and words of wisdom, you guided a very young ambitious girl and I’ll never forget the way you stuck your neck out for me and guided me.”

Former colleagues in Derby have also paid tribute in an obituary run by the Telegraph, where he was editor from 1991 to 1996.

Steve Hall, who later edited the Telegraph himself, told the newspaper: “Mike was a huge character. Larger, and louder, than life, there was never a dull moment when you were in his company.

“But he was also an exceptional newspaperman, a brilliant wordsmith and a supremely talented designer.

“He was also fearless and happy to take on the establishment whenever he felt it needed a bloody nose. We shall not see his like again.”

Richard Bowyer, who previously tweeted of his sadness at Mike’s death, added: “He was a brilliant editor who could spot a story a mile off and then using his creative genius and magical way with words, design brilliant pages with an amazing headline.

“He was also great company, so much fun and laughter on a night out. I also had the privilege to play football with him. He was a terrifying centre-half who scared the life out of centre-forwards.

“He was inspirational and had a heart of gold despite a fearsome reputation. He made my career and I can’t thank him enough. I reckon he will be holding news conference in heaven now.”

Peter Sands, who trained Mike’s staff when he was editor in Bristol, has added his tribute in a personal blog post.

He wrote: “We quickly became friends. He was forthright, knew exactly what he wanted, and happy to rip anything to pieces if he didn’t like it. There was no pussy-footing around with Mike. He was so refreshing to work with.

“What soon became clear from my work trips to Bristol was that pub time was actually part of the job. In the pub we pored over everything that had gone on in the office. He was at home there – often outrageous, happy to spar with anyone on any topic but always funny and generous.”

“Mike was certainly a one-off, with a reputation as a maverick and a bon-viveur. But he was also a first-class newspaperman, a real wordsmith and an inspiration with impressive instincts and vision.”