A FORMER stalwart of the Stourbridge News newsroom has passed away at the age of 71.

Graham Hart, former News Group motoring and sub-editor, died on January 12 in Russells Hall Hospital.

He had been diagnosed with COPD five years ago but after quitting cigarettes overnight he had been "doing quite well" his sister Sandra Trickett reported - so his death a day after being admitted to hospital came as a shock.

Although retired in recent years - Graham had been working for a homeless shelter in Birmingham for the last five years of working life, after a lifetime in newspapers.

He became interested in journalism after getting a job at the Birmingham Post and Mail as a librarian which he applied for after initially joining the civil service to train as a factory inspector.

After training as a journalist, he worked on a host of papers including titles in Banbury, London, Evesham as well as stints as a freelance sub editor on the nationals.

Having attended Halesowen College in his younger days - Graham spent many years in his later life living and working in Stourbridge and he was a familiar face around the town.

As the News Group's motoring editor, based at the former news offices in St John's House, he was often seen taking the latest cars for a spin and he would rarely walk into the office without a story to pass on to young cub reporters to get their teeth into.

Retired News Group editor Jeff Jephcott, who worked with Graham for more than 10 years, described him as a "newspaper man through and through".

He said: "Like me, he was from another age in journalism when you hunted out stories from speaking to contacts, working meetings, and even social occasions, for news.

"Graham was hardworking and would be the first to work a weekend shift to put a paper to bed.

"He was also very generous with his time out of work. He was one of those people who would put himself before others. He proved himself to be a very devoted family man – looking after his mom, moving her from Scotland to live with him in her old age.

"I will remember him for what he was – a down-to-earth bloke, with great news sense, and who liked to have a good time. Cheers Graham."

Former Stourbridge News chief reporter Scott Faulkner described him as a "great local paper character".

Mark Salter, who worked with Graham on cover duty at the Stourbridge News in the early 1990s, he said he was "very sad to hear of his passing" and Clive Message, who worked with Graham on the Evesham Admag in the late 1970s/early 80s, said he "always enjoyed his company".

Former Stourbridge News reporter Jo Messinger added: "Graham was indeed a character and he was so welcoming and supportive when I started as a junior reporter. He passed on loads of scoops for me that he'd pick up on his travels around the patch /pubs! I will always appreciate that."

And former News Group reporter and sports editor John Simpson said: "There was rarely a dull moment sat next to him on the subs’ desk."

Amid industry changes, however, Graham finally walked away from newspapers in 2006.

In more recent years, following the death of his mother, Graham lived at St Clements Court in Halesowen and he was a regular attendee at St Margaret's Church in Halesowen.

He was also a lay minister and was involved with the Labour Party and Halesowen's Welcome group - helping to provide support for asylum seekers and refugees.

His sister, aged 75, said: "That's what led him to an interest in working with the homeless."

She said he first became a hostel assistant for Expectations UK and later became manager of several hostels on Birmingham's Hagley Road - and she added: "He helped them to move on and offered support in many ways."

As well as his sister Sandra - Graham is survived by niece Anne Woodward, and great nieces Jessica and Emily.

A funeral service for Graham will be held at St Margaret's Church, Halesowen, at midday on Wednesday February 12 and it will be followed by a service at Stourbridge Crematorium at 1.30pm.