FORMER Andover journalist Ken Dykes has died at the age of 79.

Ken, a former editor of the Andover Advertiser, spent more than 20 years working for the Advertiser’s sister paper, the Basingstoke Gazette, first as a trainee reporter, then progressing through the posts of chief reporter, assistant advertising manager, news editor and deputy editor.

He left to join the Advertiser where he served as editor from 1989 until his retirement in 1996.

After his retirement Ken became an author, publishing his first book in 2013 at the age of 77.

His self-published autobiographical novel on Amazon Kindle, Country Capers, told his story of growing up in the Hampshire countryside during and just after the Second World War.

Born in Basingstoke three years before the outbreak of the war, Ken, his parents and older brother moved a few miles away after their house in Church Square was destroyed by bombs in 1940.

At the age of 11 he won a scholarship to grammar school and later worked on a farm, as a factory welder and as a worker at an atomic weapons research station before becoming a journalist.

He remained in the industry for the next 40 years before three open heart operations forced him to retire.

Ken followed Country Capers up with a second novel, Joby’s War.

Before his death he worked on other writing projects while recovering from a recent stroke.

Ken leaves behind his wife Wendy, a son, a daughter and three granddaughters.

His main hobbies, apart from writing,were fishing, golf, horses, natural history and all things to do with the countryside.

Joe Scicluna, Ken’s successor as editor of the Advertiser, said: “Ken was an editor of great talent and integrity, who used his vast experience to take the paper forward and maintain its long tradition of being at the heart of the community.

“This, coupled to his generosity of spirit, wit and great sense of fair play earned him the respect and affection of readers and colleagues alike.

“He was a man of immense character, warmth and fun and I, along with so many others, will miss him greatly.”