Tributes have been paid to a retired Sunderland Echo journalist and “the kindest man you could ever hope to meet” following his death just days after his 86th birthday.

John Bailey moved to the North East from Essex in 1963 to join the Hartlepool Mail and also worked for the Billingham and Stockton Express before becoming the Sunderland Echo’s features editor in 1975.

A deeply-religious man, father-of-eight John died suddenly in June as he prepared to go to church while visiting family in London.

His eldest son, Tim, said: “He had an underlying health issue but it was still a shock.

The late John and Maureen Bailey at the Good Friday Walk of Witness in Victory Square, Hartlepool, in 2023.

placeholder image — The late John and Maureen Bailey at the Good Friday Walk of Witness in Victory Square, Hartlepool, in 2023.

“He spent his last days with energy and enthusiasm and did not fizzle out, enjoying the company he was with in London at a book launch and family birthday.”

John was married to Maureen, a retired teacher who died in 2023, and is survived by eight children and 16 grandchildren.

Tim, 61, an architect, said: “We have been inundated with messages of sympathy, which have been a comfort and show how much they were both loved and respected.”

Echo assistant editor Gavin Ledwith, who is also editor of the Hartlepool Mail, said: “John was one of the most polite and pleasant people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and he was still tipping me off about stories just weeks before his death.

“Everyone of us here at the Echo and Mail offer his family and friends their deepest sympathy.”

During his career, John served as president of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and was still an active member locally until his death.

Pauline Norris, a former chair of the union’s Standing Order Committee (SOC), said: “John Bailey was the kindest man you could ever hope to meet.

“He was generous in every way imaginable in his friendship and hospitality, giving comfort in times of need.”

Gilbert Johnson, a former picture editor at the Sunderland Echo, said: “John was a good friend and colleague.

“Always supportive, he was kind, professional and dedicated to the union movement, to his friends and colleagues, and, most importantly, to his family.

“With his passing, a guiding light has gone from the world but part of him will live on in the example he showed to others.

“He is sadly and deeply missed by everyone who knew him.”

John, who lived in Hartlepool, was also the editor of the Catholic diocesan monthly newspaper, the Northern Cross, for nearly three decades.

A requiem funeral service will take place at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, in Hutton Avenue, Hartlepool, on Monday, July 13, at noon.

It will be followed by a committal at Stranton Cemetery.

Anyone wishing to make a donation instead of flowers is asked to consider Hartlepool Street Angels and Hartlepool Food Bank, which were “two of John’s fondly held charities”.

As well as Tim, John is survived by children Clare Clarke, 60, Dympna Oliver, 58, Greg, 56, Colette, 54, Ben, 53, Dom, 52 and Dan, 48.

His family are planning to celebrate John’s life in pictures and anyone with any photos of him – be it from celebrations, holidays, work, church events, community and charitable work – can email them to Dom at [email protected].