A journalist who served as a regional daily’s health correspondent for many years has died of cancer aged 72.

Tributes have been paid to Greg Tindle, whose work for the South Wales Echo spanned four decades.

Greg, pictured, initially joined the Cardiff-based Echo as a general reporter in the 1970s but was best known for his years of service covering health.

Such was his standing at the newspaper, he was affectionately known as ‘The Major’ among colleagues.

Phillip Nifield, former political & business editor of the Echo, said: “I worked with Greg at the Echo from the 1970s through to 2008 when I took early retirement. He was a very good friend.

“The ‘Major’ was a top-class health correspondent, hugely popular with colleagues and not just those in Echo Editorial.

“A lovely, fun bloke, who also happened to be a very talented cricketer – good at batting and bowling. We enjoyed many a good night together playing for the Western Mail & Echo cricket team. No one had a bad word to say about Greg as a person.

“After he and I retired, a group of old timers would go out for dinner every so often with Greg, Margaret O’Reilly, Jenny Longhurst, Alison Stokes, Maxine Ashford and myself. Greg was always the life and soul of the evening. Our last meal together was on 11 January this year.”

Former Echo reporter Nick Horton added: “Greg was one of those people who made you glad you went into journalism. I can’t imagine anyone ever having a bad word to say about him. A fantastic personality, a top journo – and a ‘tache to make Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck jealous.

“As sad as this is, it makes me smile just to think about him. My brother Paul and I started working with Major Tindle in the – gasp – early 80s, and judging by the other comments here, it cracks me up that he was telling the same groansome gags to every generation who followed us in the newsroom.”

“For years we spent long Saturday nights doing sport subbing shifts on Wales on Sunday where he eased the pain by leaving me in fits of laughter.

“A legend who, incidentally, I always thought gave Robert Redford a run for his money for matinee idol looks.”

And former Echo business editor Geoff Wright said: “The Major is irreplaceable. A gentle man in every sense of the word, kind, considerate and above all the funniest man I’ve ever met.

“Rest easy, old boy, I’m glad we were able to share the occasional pint. We’re in a poorer place today.”

Away from journalism, Greg was fan of Essex County Cricket Cricket Club and Luton Town Football Club.

He died on Sunday evening and is survived by children William and Jenny.