A “brilliant” newsman who helped run the newsdesk at a city daily when it sold more than 350,000 copies a day has died aged 94.

Gerry Holloyoak, left, was assistant editor in charge of news operations at the then Birmingham Evening Mail in the 1970s and early 80s.

He ran the Mail’s newsdek alongside Ian Mean, who was chief news editor from 1975-84 and who went on to edit the Gloucester Citizen and Western Daily Press.

Gerry died on 19th December following a period of hospitalisation.

Paying tribute, Ian said: “Gerry was a brilliant newsman-one of the very best I have worked with on regional and national news desks. He knew every inch of Birmingham and I relied on him a great deal for his local knowledge.

“He was king of the overnight pages. This was a time of bumper editions when there were as many as 34 pages which had to be filled overnight and he never failed to do that with enthusiasm.

“This was the golden era of newspapers with an amazing news desk and over 50 reporters in Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands.

“These were the days when the Mail was selling over 350 000 copies a night—an incredible news machine with Gerry at its heart. RIP Gerry.”