I wanted to add how very sorry I was to find out about Andy's death. My memories of him go back 20 years to a time when I was an Express & Star trainee and he was assigned to 'look after' me when I shadowed him at work, he was a lovely bloke and really too kind to me with my stupid questions and incessant pestering. I very much enjoyed and appreciated his company, shared lots of laughs and learned a great deal. Thank you Andy and I am so sorry.

I've known Andy since we started at King James' in 1967. We became good mates and remained so until his death. He will be irreplaceable in my life and I'll treasure the many, many good times we had.
I've recorded a few I'd like to share on a blog so please have a read an keep the memories alive. http://richtblag. blogspot.com/
Love ya Andy.
Richie 'Tetley' Thackray, Jessop

Andy became close friends with my wife Maria and I when he joined the Huddersfield Daily Examiner. It was his first job in journalism and I was an old-stager of 35. He admired my record collection (even though it contained no Dylan) and my long denim overcoat, which eventually became his. He took us out to dinner to celebrate his 21st (just the three of us) and actually wore a tie. He spent our 10th wedding anniversary with us (just the three of us) and we played records all night. After our 41st wedding anniversary this month, Maria recalled that night and talked of Andy. We found the photographs; Andy with his long hair and straggly beard and long scarf. We should get in touch. Then Phil Farmer got in touch instead and we learned Andy had died.
I went to Andy's funeral and caught up with him at last. It was wonderful to see so many there and to hear of the impact and lasting friendships he had made. In those early days, he was funny, loyal, warm and so honest it hurt. It was good to know he hadn't changed. He was genuinely one of the good guys.

Andy was one of the good guys: a brilliant old school reporter who believed in doing the job properly, and a kind, gentle, caring, funny man with principles. I worked with him many years ago, and If you were a photographer you loved to have Andy with you on a job, because he was so talented, and such good company. I was involved with the NUJ, and Andy was one of the members who you wanted to have with you in the trenches. He would make a principled decision and stick with it, and he would always back you up. I didn't see much of him after I left the paper, but all the journalists I chanced across liked Andy: reporters, photographers, subs; even the apparatchiks armed with their notebooks and stopwatches probably liked Andy. He seemed to be universally popular, and there will be many sceptical old hacks, like me, who will feel a sense of loss at the demise of a good and honourable man, and a greatly respected colleague.

Everyone liked Andy. He was a genuine reporter of the old school and liked to do things properly. He had a great sense of humour, was sharp-witted and generous and was a good friend.
He really helped me when I went to work at Wolverhampton office, where we had a good laugh at some of the silliness going on around us, thanks to his never ending supply of comic cuttings.
Andy had an encyclopaedic knowledge of football and music. He even managed to convince his old mate Ron Warrilow that Huddersfield Town played at New Leeds Road. His LP collection stretched round the house and he was never happier than when a new catalogue of rare vinyl arrived.
Since leaving the Express & Star he had become old and frail before his time and rarely left Shifnal, but he was always good company and his death still comes as a shock.
So sorry and such a sad loss.
Rest in Peace.

Andy was a great reporter when I first met him at the Express & Star and it was just under two years ago that I met up with him again with mutal friend Paul Gibbons.
Andy had changed a great deal in that time but he was still a true gentleman.
Paul had tried to help Andy and had invited him out for lunch with us in the hope it would help him escape his isolation that he had taken to living in.
But Andy was in such a place that nothing we could say or do could help and it was with great sadness that I learned of Andy's death.
I truly hope that you are at peace now Andy, God Bless and I'm sorry we couldn't do more to help.

Andy was a loyal friend and sharp-witted colleague who I learned a huge amount from as a reporter several years his junior. He taught me about being thorough and accurate and asking pertinent questions. I particularly have many happy memories working in that ramshackle warren of a building when the Dudley Office of the E&S was in Wolvehampton Street in the late 1980s and early 1990s along with our drinks and hot pork sandwich lunches at the Lamp Tavern. Later he was a great help to me many a time at the crown court at Wolverhampton. He had a steady stream of amusing stories and a whimsically knowing smile to go with them. Although I had not seen Andy for what must be well over two years, never a Saturday goes by when I don't check on the football scores for his beloved Huddersfield Town. I pray you have found your true place in God's good care, Andy. With many thanks for all you shared. Paul Hinton