AMID the many richly-deserved tributes to Eric Langton featured in last week’s edition, it mustn’t be forgotten that Eric, who lost his brave battle with cancer on August 4, began his successful career in journalism at the Winsford Guardian.

When I joined the newspaper in 1967, he was a junior reporter and we quickly became friends as well as colleagues.

When our careers took us in different directions we remained in contact and met up regularly with other journalist friends, among them Bill Mellor, another man destined to become a media legend, who also started out on the Winsford Guardian.

Even after the medical diagnosis, and right up until he retired to Tuscany, Eric always made the effort to attend our little period reunions.

The tributes that have been paid in the aftermath of his cruel death have all reflected my own view of this terrific guy: he was a talented journalist who attained high office in his chosen profession, he was a great family man, but most of all he was a lovely human being.

My thoughts at this moment are also with his beloved wife Olivia, his children and other members of his extended family.

Derek Yarwood Chief Reporter, Winsford Guardian (1967-71), Barnton