THE former news editor of the Comet, who had worked for the company for more than 40 years, has died.

John Adams, who retired earlier this year, was diagnosed with cancer in November 2010 and died last night (Tuesday). He was 65.

His career with The Comet pre-dates the title itself. He had been with the group for 46 years, and for more than 37 of those years he held the title of news editor.

Initially starting work on the Pictorial, he was on the title when it changed name to the Comet and shortly afterwards took the job role which he held until his retirement.

Through successive editors and changes of ownership, John has been an ever-present on the title and has guided many junior reporters through their formative years while also providing the engine room for a number of successes, most notably when The Comet was named Free Newspaper of the Year by the Press Gazette, Newspaper Society, EDF Energy and Archant.

John’s commitment to the Comet was there for all to see and he took on the very mantle of the title, having served on it since it was formed back in 1971.

In his formative years as a reporter John worked in a number of branch offices and, while as a Letchworth-born lad that was his initial area of expertise, he quickly went on to gain a host of fantastic contacts throughout the whole of Comet country.

As news editor John established himself as the man in the know in North Herts and his knowledge of the area was unrivalled. From road name spellings and local history to names of former chairmen or mayors, John knew his history because he was a working journalist when it was being made.

In the role of news editor, John brought a solid organisation to the title and as The Comet found its feet in the early years he made sure that reporters followed his lead and took the title along the road which was dictated by the editors of the time.

In later years John’s expertise expressed itself in his weekly Perspective column in which he tackled a number of issues using his remarkable local knowledge, often proving that many of the stories which affect us are nothing unusual because John had seen it all before.

He provided a great connection for those readers who have grown up with The Comet but, while he was able to play heavily on nostalgia, he also recognised that with breakthroughs such as social media there is an exciting future for newspapers.

Comet editor Darren Isted said: “John was the most influential journalist in this area and was everything that’s best about the local press.

“He knew the people and places of this area intimately, from the big political figures to the volunteers and group organisers who did so much but never hit the headlines.

“The North Herts marketplace has been through a number of changes but John was the guiding hand to make sure that The Comet has not only survived but also thrived to remain as the dominant product.

“For a few years John was news editor of The Comet, the Herald and the North Herts Gazette as all three titles were owned by one company. He juggled that role with his trademark calm and unflustered demeanour.

“On a personal level he was there when I started at the Comet as a very raw junior reporter and taught me to try and stay calm, even when under extreme pressure.

“His loss is felt by all in the media family but I have lost a great colleague and friend. Even now I want to shout out his name and ask the spelling of a road name and in which town or village it is situated. John would know, he always did and he was never wrong.”

The greatest tribute one can pay to John is that, despite severe ill health in the past year, he has shown strength and courage which have made him a role model for all.