Tributes to 'newspaper legend' Alan Goode

Warm tributes in the Bristol Evening Post and the Plymouth Herald today to former Bristol United Press chief executive and editor Alan Goode who died in hospital yesterday aged 72.

Goode started in his role as chief executive at Bristol United Press in 1994, after rising through the ranks of regional journalism to become editor of the Plymouth Evening Herald.

He oversaw BUP – then the parent company of the Evening Post and Western Daily Press – as it expanded and registered record profits in the late 1990s.

Goode his first job in journalism was a trainee reporter at the Oldbury Weekly News in 1960.He had two spells at the Wolverhampton Express and Star – one as chief reporter – and a spell at the Birmingham Post and Mail before he became editor of the Evening Herald.

Former Evening Post editor Mike Lowe, who was appointed by Goode in the mid-1990s, said: "Alan was a true newspaper legend who was fortunate enough to live through the golden age of the regional industry.

"He was a brilliant newspaperman and an inspirational leader who was hugely respected by his peers. He had a great sense of fun and mischief and was incredibly loyal to his staff."

Phil Welch, editor at Mid Somerset News & Media, said: "Alan was a wonderful man, a mentor to me and a friend to many."

Alan Cooper, who was his deputy at the Herald said Goode was renowned for his "fantastic sense of humour and larger-than-life character".

He added: "I joined the Herald in the same year as Alan where I worked as his deputy editor. It was a partnership made in heaven and we became lifelong friends.

"He was such a lovely man and my admiration for him has never been diminished. "He was one of the true greats in the profession and an absolute pleasure to work with – we had a fantastic partnership.

"His fantastic sense of humour will be remembered forever. He was a wonderful journalist, a wonderful editor and a wonderful man."

• In retirement, Goode returned to his journalistic roots as a community correspondent. (Pic: Plymouth Herald)