LLOYD Jefferies, editor of the Wellington Weekly News for 35 years, has died - three weeks before his 100th birthday.

Lloyd, who worked in total for 45 years for the Wellington Weekly, passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning (November 1) in Burnham on Sea Community Hospital.

He was still living in Elworthy Drive, in Wellington, shortly before he died.

A keen sportsman, Lloyd was men’s singles champion at Wellington Tennis Club and later president, and reported on Wellington Rugby Club for the Wellington Weekly for many years.

He leaves two daughters Jane and Susan, who both live away, five grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Barry Knott, the paper’s current sports editor, was an apprentice on the newspaper under Lloyd for four years before joining the Express and Echo, in Exeter.

Barry said: "Lloyd was a splendid editor and a stickler for accuracy.

"He was much respected in the town which he loved.

“Sadly, his wife Mary, who was a wonderful lady, died about 35 years ago."