A former regional reporter who turned to journalism after stints as a model and a taxi driver has died aged 73.

Anita Bond, who worked for the Grimsby Telegraph in the late 1960s, died last month at her home in Spain after a year-long battle with cancer.

Her home-town newspaper, and associated website Grimsby Live, ran a special tribute piece in which reporter Lauren Davidson spoke to Anita’s brother Terry.

He told how despite starting off doing some work as a model and even driving her own Hackney Carriage, his sister’s passion was always writing.

Former Grimsby Telegraph reporter Anita Bond has died at her home in Spain.

After landing her dream job as a reporter for the Telegraph, Anita would continue her journalism career abroad when, after a short stint in Germany, she moved to Calpe on the Costa Blanca.

There, she was an active writer for the English newspaper Costa Blanca News, and ran a thriving social club for expats, who would meet every Saturday night to eat a meal and dance.

In the article, Terry paid tribute to his ‘strong and independent’ sister who had developed her keen interest in writing while at grammar school in Grimsby.

Speaking to Grimsby Live, he said: “She always liked her writing, she loved working for the Grimsby Telegraph.

“She was always very independent and a very strong woman. You knew where you were with her, she didn’t pull punches. She liked entertaining, that was one of her greatest hobbies.”

Anita visited Grimsby earlier this year for a week to spend time with her family while Terry visited Anita in Spain shortly before her death.

He said: “I sat with her on the bed and held her hand and she said, ‘I’ve been waiting for you, and now I can go’.”

As per Spanish traditions, Anita was cremated close to her home in Spain the day after her death.

Former Grimsby Telegraph reporter Anita Bond and her brother Terry.