A former daily newspaper newsdesk chief credited with running “the finest journalistic team in Scotland” has died aged 85.

Ian Calcutt, pictured, worked for Scotland’s Daily Record for 34 years culminating in a stint as its news bureau chief in Edinburgh.

At the time, the Record sold an average 780,000 papers a day and, in the words of an obituary published in The Scotsman, was “part of what was regarded as the finest journalistic team in Scotland.”

During his time with the Record, Ian covered high-profile murder investigations and trials, political and social upheaval, including the miners’ strikes, and social scandals such as the Duchess of Argyll divorce case.

Born in 1938 in Edinburgh, he originally planned to study biochemistry at Edinburgh University, but on a whim applied for, and secured, a job as a junior reporter on the Dalkeith Advertiser.

Months later he joined the Edinburgh Evening News before moving to the Record in 1960, remaining with the title until his retirement in 1994.

The many anecdotes of his time at the Record included having a plate of porridge thrown at him by French film star Brigitte Bardot in the early Sixties.

On another occasion, he lent a few coins to the soon-to-be Prime Minister Harold Wilson to play a fruit machine and watched as the future PM pocketed the paltry winnings without repaying the initial stake.

Outside journalism, Ian’s great love was salmon fishing which he pursued as a leisure activity for around 70 years, becoming a regular on the Tay, the Tweed and other major rivers.

Around 1960 he began a lifelong friendship with angling writer Bill Currie, with whom he collaborated on a series of fishing books including The Art of Salmon Fishing in 1963.

In his Scotsman obituary, Christine Kennedy described Ian as “quick-witted, smart, decisive and opinionated, interested in the world. He was also generous, very kind and loyal to his friends, and great company.”

“He had an easy ability to fit in with those around him, and would strike up a chat with any group of people, whether they were regular attendees at the Burgh Court, or landed gentry on the salmon beats,” she added.

In 2008, at the age of 70, Ian was delighted to be reunited with his only child, the result of a relationship prior to his marriage in 1962.

He enjoyed the last 15 years of his life spending time with his daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.