One of my Press cartoon predecessors, Ged (Gerald) Melling, died last month as a result of a road accident in Bromley, Kent. He was 73, writes Wolf.

Ged moved to York in 1976 and was the 'Press' cartoonist in the mid 1980s. Ged was not only a great cartoonist but also a skilful painter and illustrator and, before becoming a full-time cartoonist, earned his living as an art teacher.

While living in York, Ged worked as an art tutor with the Workers' Education Authority and York residents may also remember his work being exhibited at the (now sadly defunct) Arts Centre in Micklegate, the Theatre Royal and Naburn Hospital.

After leaving York, he did a great deal of work for The Times. More recently, his work appeared, almost exclusively, for my favourite monthly magazine, The Oldie where he vied, successfully, for space with some of Britain's best cartoonists. Sadly, Ged suffered great personal problems during his life and battled with depression as well as alcoholism but, as the publisher Richard Ingrams has pointed out: "Some of his best jokes were based on his experience in self-help groups and Alcoholics Anonymous".

Well, that's the potted history, but what of Ged as a cartoonist? Ged's observations of life were certainly quite curmudgeonly and acerbic, and his wry observations of modern life would probably not sit terribly well with the PC brigade. His seemingly simple drawings - Ged drew directly on to the paper with pen, not using a pencil first - are masterful and, like his humour, it was almost as much about what he didn't draw or say that made his cartoons so funny and memorable. The humour was usually understated, but instant.

Thanks to Nick Parker, deputy editor of The Oldie, for giving The Press permission to reproduce one of the last cartoons he drew for them.