Former Press Association news sub Drew Ferguson died over the Easter break, aged 65.
Andrew Robert Ferguson grew up in Harrow, Middlesex, and began his career in on Weekly Post Newspapers, Ruislip, in 1954. He went on to work for the Middlesex Advertiser & County Gazette, the Acton & Shepherds Bush Gazette, the Bristol Evening Post and, as sports editor, for the Middlesex Advertiser & County Gazette and Buckinghamshire Advertiser.
Ferguson moved to the Daily Sketch in 1967 where he joined the sports desk and where his frequently bylined reports covered mainly Football League matches and international athletics.
He joined PA in 1971 as a member of the news production team, regularly deputising as chief sub and as foreign editor. He was proud of his all-round ability and he was often called in to beef up the sports desk and the parliamentary department for big stories.
Ferguson kept up direct contact with Fleet Street as a regular part-time casual on the Sunday Express sports desk. He took voluntary redundancy from PA in 1991 and retired to a house on Epsom Downs.
His untimely death followed some months of ill-health. He was a gentleman and a warm-hearted friend. Colleagues will remember his zest for journalism and for life and his keen interest in their lives and welfare. He was a life member of the NUJ.
He leaves a widow, Julia, and two grown-up children by his first marriage.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog