Family, friends, colleagues and a host of former contacts in the world of football and the police force were today mourning veteran Telegraph & Argus journalist Don Alred, who has died at the age of 81 after a short illness.

When he officially retired in 1986, Don was described as "a T&A legend" - an honour earned during 49 years on this newspaper which he joined in 1937, aged 16, as a cub reporter.

He went on to become a sports writer, covering Bradford City for 26 years (as "Bantam") and Odsal Speedway (as "Red Shale") while at the same time spending 25 years as highly-respected crime reporter before moving on to the newsdesk, initially as deputy news editor and later as news editor.

After his retirement at the age of 65, Don continued his association with the T&A for several years, co-ordinating the team of correspondents for the Yorkshire Observer and organising the photographs and prizes for the annual Holiday Snapshots competition. Former T&A chief photographer Dennis Flatt, who worked with Don throughout most of his career and was also a close personal friend, said today: "He was a joy to work with. He was a kind and gentle man who remained young at heart to the end.

"Although he ran a newsroom which sometimes had some difficult people in it, I never remember him losing his temper. During his years as crime reporter we were highly respected by his police contacts, who trusted him implicitly."

David Swallow, former T&A business editor and Yorkshire cricket reporter, who was deputy to Don's news editor for several years, said: "Don was a very special man, as a colleague and personal friend. I like to think we were a good newsdesk team due to his wide local knowledge and experience and sense of humour. He always had a smile, even at 7am when the working day was beginning.

"When we met up at the monthly meetings of the T&A retired editorial employees association there were always plenty of memories of happy days in Hall Ings."

When Don, of Calverley, was awarded the MBE in the 1987 New Year honours he typically said: "I regard this as an honour not only for myself but also for the T&A and all my journalist friends."

Don is survived by his widow Renee, two sons, a daughter, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A second daughter, Barbara, a former gymnast who competed in the Munich Olympics, died some years ago.