A former Beacon reporter has died at the age of 87.

Dennis Witherley was born in Chippenhamgate Street in Monmouth in 1925, the son of Frederick and Lilian.

He went to school at Major Reade School for boys and studied at Cardiff Technical College.

After carrying out his military service in Lancashire as an RAF telegram operator, Dennis returned to Monmouth in 1947 and started working for the Monmouthshire Beacon.

A dedicated employee, his enthusiasm and passion for local news and events gained him a reputation as a 'legend' among his working colleagues.

"He got on particularly well with the then editor, Dan Lewis, and often spoke with fondness of the happy years they spent working together," said Dennis's son Jon.

"From the first Monday morning when he walked into the Beacon office, Dan became his mentor.

"He took him under his wing and taught him the tools of the trade, the places to hang out, who was good for a story and who was not.

"Back then everybody had a story to tell. Local hotspots were the Angel Public House, the Market Tavern, the White Swan, the Kings Head and the Beaufort Arms.

"He loved that environment and soon got to grips with the whole process. He would go and report on a particular story, then take it back to the office, edit it, type it out and run it down to the printers."

Dennis left the Beacon in 1964, shortly after the death of Dan, and spent the rest of his career working as a local Government Officer.

In 1966, Dennis married Cynthia Lodge and they spent all their happily married life living in Wyesham.

Shortly after the death of his beloved Cynthia in 1999, Dennis move to Abbeyfield where he spent an enjoyable few years before finally moving to Salisbury, to be closer to his daughter.

"In my father's final years he would warmly recall his memories of his life and times as a Beacon reporter – the best days of his life – that was when he felt he was somebody, a go getter, covering local sporting events, Chepstow races and boxing as far as Cardiff – all on a press pass."

Always a family man, Dennis was a hugely devoted and loving father to Jon and Jane, and wonderful granddad to Lily, Seth and Hanna.

Dennis Witherley is pictured above, as is former editor Dan Lewis, and Dennis with his Beacon colleagues.