TRIBUTES have been paid to the Dorset Echo’s much loved sports editor who has died aged 57.

Nigel Dean, who worked for the paper for 40 years until 2019, passed away at Joseph Weld hospice in Dorchester after suffering from cancer.

Born and bred in Weymouth, Nigel leaves behind wife Julie and children Emma and Jonny.

He was the much loved son of Marie and the late Robert Dean and elder brother to Julie and Peter.

He is fondly remembered by dozens of colleagues who had the pleasure of working alongside a dedicated journalist who always insisted his job was like a hobby because he loved his work - and was following his interests and being paid for it.

Starting as compositor at the paper, Nigel worked his way up to the title of sports editor, a role he proudly held for two decades.

During that time he was responsible for numerous exclusives and oversaw quality local sports content day after day.

As sports editor Nigel had the patience to support and guide cub reporters at the beginning of their careers, despite being under immense pressure with daily and weekly deadlines, long hours and rarely a weekend off.

Dorset Echo editor Diarmuid Macdonagh said Nigel ‘was one of the most caring, humane people I have had the pleasure to know and work alongside.’

He said: “Finding the right words to do justice to Nigel is near impossible - but we know one thing for certain: nobody has ever found a reason to use a bad one about him.

“Newsrooms can be dysfunctional, stressful places to spend our working days but I never saw Nigel lose his temper, criticise a colleague or waver from the calm, reassuring presence that helped maintain some order and decency amid the chaos.

“We were lucky to have worked alongside him and we should all hope that some of that innate goodness has rubbed off on each and every one of us.

“He made the Echo a better place to be and we should all ensure we strive to be better people for having known him.”