TRIBUTES have been paid to a former Argus reporter whose first love was journalism after he died at the age of 77.

Jeffrey Hockey, from Caldicot, worked at the Argus for around 10 years from 1963 and was known for his good humour and dedication to the profession.

Originally from Wrexham, Mr Hockey went on to become industrial editor at the South Wales Echo and later held senior PR position at British Gas and SWALEC in Cardiff.

A fan of golf and the card game crib, he also served as the secretary of the Severn Tunnel non-political club in Rogiet.

Mr Hockey met his future wife of 52 years, Val Hockey, in a music shop she worked at in Neath in 1960.

They got married in Neath three years later and went on to have four sons, Richard, Ian, Andrew and Neil, and five grandchildren, Maisy, Curtly, Madeline, Casey and Craig.

Having lived together in Caldicot for the best part of 40 years, Mrs Hockey said her husband was popular in the community and that journalism was his first love.

She said: “It was just the flick of a coin that we met. It was fate.

“He was outgoing, a friend of everybody, and everyone knew him in the village we lived. He was always an outgoing person. Everyone knew him as Jeff, not Jeffrey.

“He loved his grandchildren and they all loved him. The youngest one we called Velcro as she was always clinging to him.”

Geoffrey Wright, 69, from Caldicot, who worked with Mr Hockey at the Argus in the early 70s and knew him for the best part of 40 years, said his dear friend was an unforgettable character.

He said: “In an industry where moving from place to place and job to job is a natural course of events there is a handful of characters people never forget. Jeff Hockey was one of those. 

“He passed on experience, knowledge and common sense in an honest and no-nonsense way. 

“He was a well-respected reporter and when gamekeeper turned poacher he maintained this reputation in his new PR role because people knew that what you saw was what you got.

“He was the first contact I made when I arrived in South Wales and I count that as a huge slice of luck as he became a valuable and loyal friend and colleague over more than 40 years. 

“But best of all he made us laugh - not a bad combination and one that leaves behind a multitude of fond memories that will stand the test of time. “

Mr Hockey’s funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church in Caldicot at 10am on Wednesday December 2 and will be followed by a service at Coleford Crematorium at 11.30am. There will refreshments at The Castle Inn in Caldicot afterwards.