Tributes to Mr Brightlingsea

TRIBUTES have been paid to a former East Anglian Daily Times correspondent who was an integral part of the community he worked in.

Harold Lord, 89, was a well-known face in his home of Brightlingsea and was regarded by many "an original gentleman".

Mr Lord was taken to Colchester General Hospital on Monday night , but died on Tuesday.

He had been a freeman of Brightlingsea and had been one of the few holders of the "deputy's medal of honour", a rare title gained for outstanding services to the town.

He only retired from reporting the town's affairs in the October 2002 when his health deteriorated, although according to friends he was reluctant to finally put down the pen.

Mr Lord, of Windsor Court, had been a keen motorcyclist, who lived his whole life in Essex, the county he loved.

Peter Fisher, his friend of many years, first met Mr Lord as a young lad in the shipyard at Brightlingsea.

He said: "Sadly, over the past few years his health was not at its best and many times he would say to me when I sometimes pulled his leg about his old ribbon type, he would say 'that ribbon will see me out'.

"When Harold had been reporting the Brightlingsea news for forty five years to the day, he said to me 'you can do the next forty five years' – well it is a very large pair of shoes to fill but I will do my best.

"Harold will always be missed in Brightlingsea, he was an original gentleman."

Other honours bestowed upon Mr Lord during his time in Brightlingsea included the title, "Personality of the parish".

Born just off Maldon Road, in Colchester in 1914 - he attended the Convent School in Priory Street, and then went to the technical college which he followed with a job at Paxman's in the town.

A broken leg prevented him from serving during World War II, but he worked at Colchester employment exchange where he placed people into jobs.

He leaves behind wife, Pearla, son Julian and daughter Janet.

Mr Lord's funeral will be held at All Saints Church, Brightlingsea, on March 11.