TRIBUTES have been paid to former Hereford Times photographer Graham Eastlake after his death aged 72.

Mr Eastlake, who was born in Leominster, died at his home in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex.

He worked on a number of titles over the years including the Hereford Times, Uxbridge Gazette, Shropshire Star and Hereford Journal.

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In the late 90s, he went freelance but continued to work for news titles including the Bristol Post and the South Wales Argus alongside press relations commissions for clients including Marks and Spencer.

Raised in Leominster, Herefordshire, he began his career as studio apprentice with Derek Evans in Hereford, before moving on to Foster and Skeffington and then his first staffer job with the Hereford Times during the 1970s.

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During his youth, he travelled extensively around Europe. He briefly lived in Malta, worked on a kibbutz in Israel and settled in Demark for a number of years.

His family said was a huge fan of rally driving and motorsports and would regularly attend night rallies in the Black Mountains – capturing the action on camera.

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Another sporting fixture also led him to see stars: when legendary Hereford United footballer John Charles failed to put on the brakes and collided with him and the side of the goal when he was covering a home fixture at Edgar Street.

He leaves a wife, Patricia, two sons Jacob and Gideon and grandchildren and will be much missed by his family, friends and former colleagues.

His funeral service will take place at Hereford Crematorium on Tuesday, December 13 at 3.15pm.

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