Mr WALTER Jones, for many years the Argus' Grassroots reporter for Risca and surrounding area has died after battling with pancreatic cancer.

He would have been 87 on May 31.

Mr Jones was born at Station House, Crosskeys and was for some years connected with the Sunday school at the nearby Hope Baptist Church and with the church itself until the family moved to Risca following which he began a long and lasting connection with Risca Male Choir.

In 1942 he served with the Royal Air Force in Britain and the Middle East before returning home at the cessation of hostilities and starting off as a clerical worker took a career path that would later see him become an administrator and factory production manager.

His involvement in the local community also led him to becoming Risca's 'lollipop man' for some time.

But it was for his diligence as the Argus' eyes and ears in Risca and Cross Keys that he was best known in his later years.

Clubs and societies would send in their reports and there was rarely a public meeting at which he was not present, pen in hand.

Even during the final phase of his illness he continued to gather news which was typed out for him on a computer by Lucy his grand-daughter.

Argus deputy editor Nicole Garnon said "Walter was one of the ways this newspaper stays in touch with its audience.

"His contribution to the Grassroots column was eagerly read by local people and admired by editorial staff.

"There couldn't have been a single person in the Risca area who didn't know Walter Jones."

Mr Jones leaves a wife, Pauline, a daughter Kay, sons Robert and David and grand-daughters Lucy and Emma.