ONE of the Gazette & Herald’s most popular and longest serving columnists has passed away, aged 91.

Des Reed began writing for the paper 30 years ago, sharing his knowledge of local history and instinctive feel for the customs and area where generations of his family had lived.

His youngest son, Ian, said Des, who was born in Norton on April 23, 1922, was always proud of the fact that it was both Shakespeare’s birthday and St George’s Day.

“Dad’s pride at being English was only slightly diminished by his pride of being from Malton and Norton, where he has lived, apart from military service, for all of his 91 years,” said Ian.

“At the age of 17, Dad signed up with the Royal Artillery in Scarborough and was always proud of his seven-figure service number which meant that you had not been “called up” for compulsory service but had volunteered before hostilities commenced.”

Ian said his father was posted to several anti-aircraft gun and searchlight locations, but as the war progressed he decided to join the elite “red devils” of 6th Airborne Division. He participated in several major actions, most notably Operation Varsity, the Crossing of the Rhine, which was the largest Airborne action of the war.

“After the war ended he was immediately posted to Palestine to keep the peace and then back to Britain where he met my mother, Joan, who was a young NAAFI girl working on Salisbury Railway Station,” he added.

“They were married in September 1945 and he was de-mobbed the same year, returning to Malton. “They lived in Hovingham for a short time where my brother Stewart was born, later returning to Old Malton, where I appeared a few years later.”

Des was in the Territorial Army and retained his pre-war job as assistant to the chief clerk, Bill Little, at Malton Urban District Council.

He later worked for NE Gas Board and then took on the development of Malton Motors Ltd in York Road. He worked as manager for Burgess Feeds at Thornton-le-Dale and then back to the motor industry in York for a short while before retiring in the mid-80s.

“He was never bored and his love of writing began a 30-year regular column in the Gazette & Herald. His mailbox was constantly full of letters from people who felt the passing of a lifestyle.

“Des was determined that this unique Ryedale/North Riding culture should never be forgotten in the international media-driven world in which we now live.

“Like so many of his generation, he had grown up in a frugal self- sustaining yet intensely community- driven world, where everyone looked out for everyone else.”

Ian added: “For a generation where the hit publication for boys had been “Boys’ Own Magazine” and the latest thing was listening to the “new” radio, this was to be the generation which was suddenly dropped into the unimaginable horrors of total war. “Their generation were simply not prepared for this kind of terror, yet they picked themselves up, made the best of what they had and carried on. British, English, Malton & Norton– that was Des Reed, and I am proud he was my father.”

Sarah Hyde, Gazette editor, said: “We are all truly saddened by this news. Des was a loyal supporter of the Gazette, a regular visitor to the Malton office and his inimitable weekly contributions provided an important insight into times and traditions gone by. “Everyone at the Gazette will miss him.”

• Ian has asked us to publish his father’s final two Gazette columns as planned. Read the colum here>>