TRIBUTES have been paid to former Gazette chief reporter Paul Davidson, who has died, aged 65.

Paul was on the train home to Colchester from London after finishing his shift on the Sun newspaper.

He suffered a suspected heart attack at Shenfield train station.

Paul was born and raised in Lincolnshire, the son of Jim and Edna, and after leaving school he started as a trainee reporter on the Grantham Journal and trained in journalism at Clarendon College, Nottingham.

Paul then spent almost 50 years in the newspaper industry where he made his mark as an admired and respected reporter and sub-editor, a mentor to younger journalists and as a friend to many.

Paul married his wife, Shirley, in 1969 and the family moved from Nottingham to Colchester in the early Seventies, when he took up a new job with the BT press office.

He moved on to work for the Colchester Gazette, where he is remembered as an outstanding writer and journalist.

He was a reporter, feature writer, chief reporter and news editor who made his name covering several major stories, including the unsolved murder of Coggeshall doctor’s wife Diane Jones.

While he was working on a shift for the Sunday People in 1985, he was attacked during the Brixton Riots.

Paul was slashed across the head with a knife by a gang of youths as he tried to warn a colleague a fire had been started underneath his car.

He was fortunate not to lose his sight. Instead, he proudly bore a scar.

After recovering from his injuries, Paul left the Gazette for the Sunday People and began a long association with Fleet Street, later moving from reporting to newspaper production as a sub-editor on the News of the World and the Sun.

Colleagues remembered Paul as a “safe pair of hands”, a stickler for accuracy, grammar and deadlines, who was able to tell a story in vivid plain English.

The Sun’s managing editor, Stig Abell, said: “Paul was a brilliant journalist and a lovely man – always full of ideas and fun.”

Paul was a member and former chairman of the North Countrymen’s Club in Colchester, a member of Colchester Golf Club and a former vicepresident of Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club.

He also enjoyedmusic, sport, supporting Ipswich Town, and had a keen interest in military history.

Shirley said Paul was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather who would be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

She added: “He had a passion for journalism, and newspapers in particular, and was a loyal, kind and generous friend to many.

“He loved his family and was proud of all they achieved and we are proud of him and will miss him dearly.”

Paul leaves his widow, four children – Aynsley, Lindsay, Laura and Tom – and four grandchildren.

Aynsley followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Gazette as a reporter.

He went on to be the editor of the Essex County Standard and Maldon and Burnham Standard before taking over editorship of two other Newsquest titles, the Clacton and Frinton Gazette and the Harwich and Manningtree Standard.

Paul's funeral service will take place on Wednesday, March 4, at 1.15pm at Colchester Crematorium.