FRANK Greatwich of Malvern, who died recently at the age of 93, had a clear influence on the first decade or so of my 47 years to date with the Evening News and Berrow's Journal.

He was my "boss" from when I started as a lad in 1953, until he retired in 1969, after more than 30 years as editorial chief of the newspapers of the Berrow's Organisation - the forerunner of Newsquest.

I always found him a real English gentleman, quietly spoken and with great charm and modesty, yet having firm authority and always commanding respect.

He took a keen interest in my "apprenticeship" and I - and I am sure my editorial colleagues of the time - looked on him as a caring boss whose door was always open.

His prime objective was always to maintain high journalistic standards with the emphasis on serving the community.

Frank Greatwich was able to look back on a distinguished career. He took particular pride in having been the longest-serving editor of the world's oldest newspaper, Berrow's Journal, and having spearheaded the campaign to have a memorial stone laid in Westminster Abbey to Worcester's most famous son, Sir Edward Elgar.

He was a leading figure in the life of the Faithful City and was a founder and past-president of the Guild of British Newspaper Editors.