HE was irreverent, mischievous, stubborn and loved, very much loved.

Paul Hannah, one of Essex's most respected journalist, has died at the age of 62.

And amidst the grief, there was also a clamour to share stories of times he had misbehaved or made us laugh, of his practical jokes and mutterings in his quiet, gruff Scottish burr.

Paul, who was known by all as Goose, had a wealth of experience in journalism including covering the Falklands conflict, the troubles in Northern Ireland and a plethora of major news events.

He was born in Aberdeen but moved to Glasgow as a child. His father, Albert, was a journalist on papers including Melody Maker and the Glasgow Herald before joining the PR department at British Rail.

After first working in an antique book shop, Goose followed his father’s footsteps into the world of newspapers at the East Kilbride News and Rutherglen Reformer before deciding to head south to Essex in 1978 when he was 23.

He said: "I’ll give it two years and if I don’t like it I’ll come home." He went to work for the East Anglian Daily Times at their Colchester office in Culver Street before moving across to the Gazette.

At his time at the paper, he worked in roles including as military correspondent and crime and chief reporter.

He ended his career as crown court correspondent principally covering trials at Chelmsford Crown Court for more than a decade before retiring two years ago due to ill health.

His attention to detail, knowledge of the court and legal representatives and his scrupulously written shorthand notes drew praise from judges, court officials and both work colleagues and rivals.

Judge Charles Gratwicke, head of Chelmsford Crown Court, paid tribute to his dignity and integrity in open court.

He said: "The role of court reporter is of course a very important one for a number of reasons.

“Firstly so that those who are not in court can have an accurate record of what has occurred and secondly because it brings home to other people what actually happens to those who indulge in misconduct.

“It is important what is said in court is reported accurately.

“There is, in Fleet Street, a monument to TP O’Connor and beneath the bust it says ‘his pen could lay bare the bones of a book or the soul of a statesman in a few vivid lines’.

“Paul would not seek to suggest he was a journalist of the same rank as TP O’Connor but he could, and did, chart a case in a few vivid lines and it is true to say he was unfailingly accurate.

“I have never heard, in my time at this court, anyone claim that he misreported anything.

“He was succinct and to the point. When in court he maintained a calm and dignified presence.

“I for one shall always carry in my mind a picture of him sitting at my right, looking up to the ceiling, no doubt searching for the appropriate words to encapsulate what had just been said.

“It was a pleasure to have him in court. I always felt secure he would be discreet and accurate.

“He would report matters without sensationalism.

“This court has always been blessed by a superb press bench and no doubt they feel one of their stars has been taken from them.

“On behalf of this court I would like to express my condolences to the press in general and to his family.”

Barrister Richard Potts added: “I have known him for over 30 years. I met him first through the court and later knew him, along with other members of the press, socially.

“He had a ready wit, a dry wit. He was a good hearted man and had many interests outside the press and the law.

“A highly skilled man working with and repairing things, mainly clocks. He will be sadly missed by his many friends."

But there was a lighter, caring side to him.

As part of his research for the paper, he spent a day as a tramp in Castle Park, played Father Christmas at the former Williams and Griffin department store and appeared, albeit reluctantly, in a panto at the Mercury Theatre.

He was once also banned from leaving the office having decided to cut his own hair with disastrous effects.

Andy Totham, a lifelong friend who worked with him at the Gazette, said: "Goose was a true pro. A really good, old-fashioned journalist.

"He could file a story bang on deadline time - tight, precise and accurate.

"He didn't waste words. He always said an opening paragraph should never be more than ten words and lived up to that.

"He was loyal to his friends and his quirky sense of humour and dodgy limericks knew no bounds."

Goose also had an avid interest in railway and military history compiling a large collection of military books, medals and paraphernalia.

He was a frequent visitor to the battlefields of the two world wars in Europe. He loved factual books but detested fiction.

A keen snooker player, he was a long-serving member of the North Countrymen's Club and a long-suffering supporter of Celtic.

His ability to remember the most trivial of trivial facts - from Scottish steam engines to the makers of centuries old German clocks and gramophones - made him essential in any quiz or puzzle team.

Goose, who lived in Cedars Road, Colchester, leaves his mother Una, sister Adrienne and a host of friends whose lives he enriched with his humour, knowledge and grace.

Goose's funeral will be at Colchester Crematorium on April 11 at 3.30pm.