A FORMER Falmouth Packet Chief Reporter has died at the age of 89.

John Reynolds, who worked at The Falmouth Packet as a chief reporter died at The Moorings Care Home, Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.

He is survived by his wife Pam, daughter Claire, granddaughters Charlotte and Dominique, and his sister Teresa, who lives in Falmouth.

After leaving school in Falmouth, Cornwall, John considered joining the town's art college as he was talented at drawing — although his style was more cartoon than classical.

Instead, John gravitated towards journalism and joined his local paper, The Falmouth Packet.

He later went on to work on newspapers in Wiltshire and the West Midlands.

Duringn his time as a journalist, American newspapers were keen to employ British-trained journalists, and John applied for, and was offered a job in Chicago.

Returning to Falmouth to say goodbye to his family, he was invited to rejoin the Packet and decided to stay.

Later, when John was the chief reporter, the paper advertised for a trainee reporter.

The paper posted the job advertisement in 1959, and John's future wife, Pam, was the only girl to apply for the post.

As the chief reporter, John was her immediate boss and nine years her senior. 

In 1961, and now working on a paper in Sussex, the couple returned to Falmouth to get married.

He joined the County Press in 1983.

John's great interest was in naval ships, and, to a lesser extent, RAF aircraft.

He often drew ships and planes and amassed a huge collection of photos and books on his favourite subjects.

He wrote to navies around the world and received interesting literature from them.

While in Sussex, he was the subject of a TV programme featuring his hobby.

John retired from the County Press in 1992.

Speaking to the Falmouth Packet, Pam said: "John tended to go to art school after he left school, but for some reason, he gravitated towards journalism and joined The Packet.

"He worked there for several years.

"I left school at 18, I went to Helston Grammar, and when I left I got a job at The Packet.

"In those days they were able to say they wanted a boy to join as a trainee reporter and I was the only girl who applied, and I got the job.

"I joined in 1959, and in December 1961 at Falmouth Central Methodist Church, we were married.

"We were married for sixty years when he died."

John's funeral was private.

Donations in his memory can be made to Alzheimer's UK through Geoff Leather funeral directors, Newport.