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Regional daily journalist who went on to US career dies aged 67

A former regional daily journalist who went on to work in the USA has died aged 67.

Tributes have been paid to Bob Burns, described by colleagues as a “legend” of the Liverpool Echo, where he served as assistant news editor.

Bob, pictured on his last day at the Echo, had lived in Florida since the late-1990s, where he worked for the Miami-based Globe magazine before his retirement.

He had been successfully treated for two brain tumours over the past 25 years but a third was diagnosed late last year.

Bob Burns

Bob was at home in Delray Beach, Florida, with his wife Dianne on Friday 9 December when he complained of feeling tired.

He went to bed but couldn’t be roused the next morning and was rushed to hospital where a severe blood clot on the brain was diagnosed.

Bob was put on life support but never recovered consciousness and passed away peacefully the following Monday, with his wife and two sons at his bedside.

Liverpool-born Bob began his career at the Bootle Times under legendary editor May Logan.

He also had spells on the Newark Advertiser and Western Mail, as well as the Mercury Press news agency, in Liverpool.

Bob spent 11 years with the Echo, initially working as a general news reporter.

He later became crime reporter and chief reporter before joining the newsdesk.

During his time there, Bob covered some of Merseyside’s biggest news stories including the Heysel disaster, the Hillsborough tragedy and the James Bulger murder.

Daily Mirror Columnist Briane Reade, a close friend of Bob’s, said: “Bob was a Liverpool Echo legend.

“It’s as plain and simple as that.”

Bob kept in close contact with his many friends and former colleagues back in Liverpool and returned home almost every year to visit.

A lifelong Liverpool Football Club supporter, he received a moving letter of support from the club’s managed Jurgen Klopp shortly before he died.

As well as Dianne, a native of New Orleans who he met while on holiday in 1981, Bob is survived by sons Michael and Paul.