An editor who ran a weekly newspaper for 18 years has died aged 79.

George Tuckfield edited the Henley Standard from September 1990 until September 2008.

During his career, he also served as editor of the Bracknell News for seven years and held a number of senior roles on the Reading Chronicle.

At the Chronicle, he was responsible for launching a Woodley edition of the paper.

According to an obituary by the Standard, George was born and raised in the village of Stogumber, Somerset, and began a two-year journalism course at Taunton College aged 14.

He worked in a builder’s office and then in the weights and measures department at Somerset County Council before getting his break and being offered a junior reporter role at the West Somerset Free Press aged 19.

George, pictured, moved to Maidenhead in 1970 to join the Berkshire Mercury as a district reporter, moving up launch the Chronicle’s Woodley edition in 1976.

He later became the paper’s news editor before taking his first full editorship at Bracknell in 1979.

George returned to the Reading office and became group editor in 1988 before being appointed editor of the Standard, where he would remain until his retirement.

Away from journalism, he was a member of North Maidenhead Cricket Club for more than 30 years, serving a first team captain for 12 years and club chairman for 18 years.

He was also the club’s president and at the time of his retirement at age 65 was still playing about 10 games a season.

George, who died on 18 December, is survived by his wife Sue, children Sean and Tracey, and five grandchildren.