Former Advertiser deputy editor John Foster dies aged 74

John Foster (pictured) was the paper’s deputy editor when he retired in 2002 after more than 40 years in the business.

After learning his trade with his home-town paper, Mr Foster had a spell with the London Evening Standard but returned home and spent the rest of his career with the Advertiser.

He continued his passion for spreading the news into retirement, editing the Ranskill Star community newsletter in Ranskill, Nottinghamshire, where he lived.

A keen sports fan, Mr Foster worked as a freelance football reporter for more than 40 years, covering his beloved Rotherham United for national newspapers and sports agencies.

His wife of 30 years, Christine, joked: “I used to say that I came third after his job and Rotherham United. He followed them for going on for 70 years and writing about them was his ideal job.”

For many years, Mr Foster penned the forthright Foster on Friday column for the Advertiser.

Among his former colleagues was Jeremy Clarkson, who trained at the paper.

Mrs Foster said her late husband had described the future Top Gear presenter as “a bit wild but a decent lad”.

Away from journalism, Mr Foster was a parish councillor and the publicity officer for both the Ranskill and Torworth Scarecrow Festival and the Bawtry Phoenix Theatre Company.

Mrs Foster said: “We met in 1985 and were married in 1988. I met him in a crowd of friends and loved him even before I spoke to him.

“He was a very forthright character and had a real passion for his job — he was really proud of it.

“But he was also able to switch off from it fairly easily.

“We travelled quite a bit and he liked to read and walk the dog.

“After he retired, he did some work for the police and some voluntary work.

“He also edited the village newsletter — I think he put as much into that as he did into the Advertiser.”

Mr Foster, who had no children, died on Sunday at Bassetlaw Hospital after a short illness.

His funeral will be held at St Barnabas’ Church, on North Road, Ranskill, at 2.15pm on Friday, July 13.

Family flowers only are requested but donations can be made to Ward A4 at Bassetlaw Hospital.

All are welcome to the funeral or afterwards at the West Retford Hotel.