A WEST BRITON journalist who has covered the triumphs and tragedies of Cornwall over almost 50 years has retired.

Colin Gregory retired last week having started his career in August 1962 at the Cornish and Devon Post.

His first big story came five months later when he was among the passengers snowed in by a blizzard on a train stuck in Tavistock Station in January 1963.

It should have been the last train from Plymouth on the old line to Launceston, but the passengers had to sleep in the carriages before being dug out by the civil defence the following day.

Colin has covered some memorable stories since then, from the Penlee lifeboat disaster of 1980 and closure of Cornwall's tin mines to countless murders and serious crimes and Cornwall's rugby triumph at Twickenham in 1991, as well as Truro City's win at the new Wembley Stadium three years ago.

He has tagged along on scores of royal visits and was the only journalist to accompany the Queen down Geevor mine in the late 1980s.

He has interviewed every British Prime Minister from Harold Wilson in the 1970s to Tony Blair, and met Margaret Thatcher on four occasions.

Other interviews have ranged from Kylie Minogue and a night out with model Jordan to the Archbishop of Canterbury and Labour leader Michael Foot, who died this week.

He has also jetted off on many overseas assignments, including tracking down a Truro solicitor who fled to Spain with £2.5m, joining the Muhammad Ali training camp for his Drama in the Bahamas fight in 1981, and covering military memorial events in Dunkirk, Normandy and Arnhem.

Colin is the only person to have won both the Regional Daily News Journalist of the Year title and the Daily Feature Writer of the Year title, in 1996 and 1997, respectively.

As well as working for the West Briton he has also worked for the Western Morning News and BBC Radio Cornwall.

West Briton editor Richard Best said: "When I arrived at the West Briton last summer it quickly became apparent that Colin was the font of all knowledge when it came to all the big Cornish news stories from the past four decades. And the great thing about Colin is that he is extremely generous with his time and knowledge, so he is always keen to share.

"Although we have worked together for less than a year I am genuinely sorry to see him go. Colin is a real old-school professional, with the stories to match, and I know that I speak for all of my colleagues when I say he will be greatly missed here in the West Briton newsroom.

"That being said, journalists rarely really retire, they just go freelance – so I am sure we will see plenty of Colin for many years to come.

"There aren't enough Colin Gregorys in the world, and we wish him all the best for a long and happy retirement."

Antique toys

Colin's great interests are Cornwall and antique toys and his aim in the future is to explore more of his homeland, then to see the world and track down some of the greatest Edwardian tin toys.

Having written four books – on Cornish pubs, Cornwall of the last century and Cornwall's rugby championship year – he also intends to add another, probably on a Cornish childhood, lasting more than 60 years.

Many leading figures in Cornwall were quick to pay tribute to Colin's work in journalism throughout his career. Truro and St Austell MP Matthew Taylor said: "I have known Colin Gregory for more than 20 years as MP and it is almost impossible to imagine local journalism without him.

"He knows more and knows more people than anyone else and has been an award winning journalist gaining national recognition for the quality of his local coverage.

"I wish him all the best in his retirement as, I am sure that thousands of readers and indeed listeners from his radio days, will.

"He will leave a hole difficult for his colleagues to fill."

Cornwall councillor Bert Biscoe added: "Colin Gregory has shared many moments of humour and drama in many places, court rooms, council chambers, on cliff tops and in valleys – he has always reported fairly and with a neutral voice (except when discussing Cornish rugby!) and he can be relied upon to be both discreet and a truth-seeker – he has set a benchmark for Cornish journalists over 40 years, and has always generously helped younger colleagues to develop their skills and to get on.

'Compassionate'

"If journalism is a profession then this is one of its great, unassuming, compassionate, fair and Cornish practitioners. When the book comes out – buy it!"

Pat Harvey, chairman of Cornwall Council, said: "Colin has been a legendary figure in West Country media over the years.

"In all of his roles, at the Western Morning News, at Radio Cornwall and most recently at the West Briton he has always acted with exemplary professionalism.

"His hard work has led to an unparalleled standing amongst his peers and in the organisations that he deals with.

"I am sure everyone at the council would join with me in wishing Colin a long and happy retirement."