A FORMER chief sub-editor of The Press and Normandy veteran has died, aged 94.

Several former newspaper colleagues have paid tribute to Jack Childe, who died at Mulberry Court Care Home in Rawcliffe.

Deputy editor Stuart Martel said: “Jack was the ultimate professional and one of the nicest people you could meet, but what I remember most about him was his endearingly impish sense of humour.

“His sharp mind kept him working as a sub-editor at The Press well into his 80s and everyone who worked with Jack has nothing but fond memories of him.

“Jack will also be remembered as a stalwart of the tea club ensuring a regular flow of brews for the subs’ desk.”

Former deputy editor Bill Hearld, who worked alongside Jack for about 30 years, said: "I only have fond memories of Jack. He was the perfect gentleman.

"He was always joking and never lost his Bradford accent, and always called everyone 'love', whether they were female or male! He was also a very talented sub-editor."

Former subs’ desk colleague Richard Johns said: "Jack was a real character with a brilliant sense of humour. He was very fit, loved walking and had a great sense of fun. He was a stalwart of the subs' tea club at The Press and always called teaspoons "possing sticks".

“He had a great sense of humour and was a real gentleman. A dying breed indeed. RIP Jacko.”

Former Press sports journalist Hugh MacDougall said: "I always remember Jack as a thoroughly professional, traditional, old style journalist who did his very responsible job as Chief Sub-Editor when the Press was in Coney Street in the days of 'hot metal' production, with authority and efficiency under the pressures of dealing with several editions each day.

"He also kept things in perspective and had a wonderful sense of humour."

Former reporter Dan Jones, now a teacher at St Wilfrid's Primary School, York, said Jack was "a gentleman, a real gentleman."

Jack wrote about his experiences in the army during the war in an article in The Press in 1999, telling how he found himself in Normandy three weeks after D-Day.

"As one who had never been farther than London on a school day trip, I found it an exciting and bowel-moving experience," he wrote. "Mainland Europe was to be my home for the next four years."

Jack was husband of the late Mary, a former assistant librarian at the newspaper for several years when it was based in Coney Street.

*Jack's funeral will take place at York Crematorium at 10.20am next Tuesday, October 30, with donations in lieu of flowers to St Leonards Hospice.