FORMER Tavistock Times journalist and printer Jack Helson who worked on the paper for 37 years has died at the age of 84.
Mr Helson began working for the original Tavistock Times in the early 1930s in its premises in Tamar Square and continued working on the paper until 1969, when it was bought out by West of England Newspapers. He started as an errand boy for the newspaper at the age of 11, going on to become a reporter and later production foreman on the printing press.
After leaving the Tavistock Times, he set up printing firm Trident Press with two colleagues — the firm remained based in the old newspaper building, Mr Helson left in 1975 and worked for West of England Newspapers until his retirement in 1982.
Cyril Hodge, who worked with Mr Helson on the Tavistock Times and later in establishing Trident Press, said he remembered Jack as a keen worker, who also had a good sense of fun.
Mr Helson served with the St John Ambulance as a teenager and later in the medical corps in India and Egypt during the second world war. In 1946 he returned to work at the newspaper.
Mr Helson was a member of Tavistock Cycling Club, Tavistock Golf Club and Tavistock and District Gardening Club.
Mr Helson leaves seven children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grand-daughters.