A former regional daily editor who went on to become an independent broadcasting regulator has died aged 91.

Jack Reedy, pictured, joined the Birmingham Post as features editor in 1964 and edited the then morning daily title from 1974-82.

He later went on to a ten-year stint as a senior national and regional officer of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, which previously oversaw ITV, Channel 4 and commercial radio.

Jack, who died in March, requested that no funeral take place after his death – instead a ‘memorial tea party’ will be held in his honour next Saturday, 7 June.

Born in Manchester, Jack’s career also took in spells at the Sheffield Telegraph, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Sunday Times and The Guardian.

He was chairman of the West Midland Region of the Guild of Editors from 1979-80 and also served two years as secretary of Birmingham Press Club in the late 1980s.

David Dunckley, who worked closely with Jack on the Post as business editor and assistant editor, said: “For certain, life was never dull.

“Jack’s enthusiasm was infectious, ideas abounded and he was never short of a compliment when he felt it had been well earned.

“I enjoyed my years working alongside him, he was a character of his time who lived and breathed newspapers.

“Even when he left the daily grind he couldn’t get the ink out of his veins and offered his talents to his local weekly newspaper.”

Jack, who is survived by his daughter, Fiona, lived at Rowington, near Warwick, where he had also served as a church warden.

Friends and former colleagues are invited to celebrate Jack’s life at a “memorial tea party” at Rowington Village Hall at 3pm on Saturday 7 June.

Said Fiona: “Dad had a long and successful career as a journalist and met his wife, Sheila, to whom he was married for 55 years, while they were both working at the Sheffield Telegraph.

“Sadly, he had been frail for many years after suffering a stroke but he never let that stand in his way and we spent our weekends at the theatre, concerts, museums and on one occasion chartered a helicopter!”