A regional daily’s former deputy editor who was a “massive force for good” on her patch has died aged 64.

Tributes have been paid to Hilary Scott, who served the Reading Post and its digital-only successor Get Reading for 15 years.

Hilary, pictured, was deputy editor in Reading between 2002 and 2014 following a four-decade career in which she also worked as royal reporter for a number of national titles.

She lived with the effects of a degenerative lung condition for the 12 months prior to her death on 19 August.

Former Post editor Andy Murrill said: “Hilary was an extremely talented journalist and a fearless and powerful woman.

“I was lucky to have her as my deputy on the Reading Evening Post for 15 years and we sat next to each other all that time sharing so many highs and lows – mainly highs, not least the successful local campaigns we championed and the national awards we won.

“I’m heartbroken that she has died.

“Hilary was a massive force for good in Reading and will be remembered with great love by thousands of people here.

“She was also a fantastic mentor for our team, particularly young female journalists who were inspired by her to be the best. I was lucky to have known her for so long and to call her my dear friend.”

Glasgow-born Hilary began her career r in 1973 as a trainee reporter at the Dundee Courier before writing for the Daily Mail, Daily Express and News of the World from 1976.

She was then royal reporter for various magazines, building strong ties with Buckingham and Kensington Palaces, before returning to local journalism in 1998 as wews editor for the Farnham Herald series.

Hilary moved to the Post as assistant editor in 1999 before stepping up to deputy editor three years later.

She led campaigns including helping to raise £1.2m for state-of-the-art hospital surgery equipment nicknamed ‘Robbie the Robot’, funding two incubators as part of the ‘Saving Tiny Lives’ drive, and ‘Knives Cost Lives’ which brought a change in the law on knife crime.

Hilary also organised the Pride of Reading Awards, now in its 18th year.

TV star Chris Tarrant, who hosts the awards, told ITV News: “She wanted to say ‘look, there are a lot of bad things written about Reading, a lot of bad press about Reading. But Reading produces some really amazing people,’ he said.

“And I as a Reading boy, over the years would say ‘yeah look at him, look at her, look what she’s done. I couldn’t do that, I couldn’t be that great.’

“And Hilary kind of taught me that. She’d say: ‘Look at these people. Just look at the various entrants each year.’

“We will of course continue with the Pride of Reading, because it’s her legacy to Reading.

“But it’s a terrible tragic loss, and we’re all just gutted.”

Hilary was also a passionate foodie, founding the award-winning Food Monthly supplement, compèring food events like EatReading Live, and setting up her own restaurant and hospitality public relations business called H&D Food Solutions with a colleague after leaving the Post.

In a tribute on her Facebook page, her sons Fergus and Harry said: “She did not talk about it publicly but over the last 12 months she had been fighting the effects of a degenerative lung disease. While she tried to stay strong and adjust to her new reality the strain on her body became too much.

“We will miss her dearly, she leaves us far too young but having lived a rich life. We are so proud of all she achieved in the field of journalism and for the town of Reading which she cared deeply about.

“We are grateful for the time she got to spend recently with dear friends and family including getting to hold her first grandchild George.

“As you read this please pour a glass of something special and toast to the one and only Hilary Scott.”

Details of Hilary’s funeral will be released in due course.