TRIBUTES to Newport historian Cliff Knight have been paid by the many people who knew him.

NOEL TRIGG, mayor of Newport: "Apart from sadness my thoughts are how much he gave to the people of Newport. One of the pleasures for me was the letters he wrote for the Argus.

"He had worked for the council and I think of him as one of the council's gifts to the wider cultural life of the city.

"He took his religious duties seriously and much wisdom flowed from that.

"Fortunately for us he left a great deal of his knowledge and wisdom in print for the benefit of the rest of us."

BOB TRETT, former curator, Newport Museum and Art Gallery: "I was fortunate to be in charge at the museum when Cliff was really getting into his stride writing about Pill - his first book was published in 1983.

"There will be many fond memories, particularly the way in which he shared his time and knowledge with other people with an interest in local history.

He was of tremendous value in particular following the discovery of the Newport ship.

"His books contained a vast amount of information amassed over many years by an extremely likeable fellow.

"The fact that his books were re-published by Newport City Library testifies to his great worth."

South Wales Argus: Cllr David Mayer

DAVID MAYER, councillor for Malpas where Clifford lived: "He was a superb chap and very conscientious. Myself and council colleagues found it fascinating talking to him about how things had changed.

"I tried to get him interested in computers at one point rather than writing everything out in longhand but he liked doing things the old-fashioned way.

"I try to urge people to take an interest in their history which was very much Clifford's field."

IBRAHIM HAYAT, councillor for Pill: "He was a brilliant man and his death is a loss for the whole community.

"He was a real character who added a great deal to the texture of Pill through his many books."

South Wales Argus: Richard Frame

RICHARD FRAME, friend, local historian and writer: "The first time I met Cliff must have been 30 years ago when he was housing advice manager for the council in Pill.

"People who had been re-housed told him their stories and he was astute enough to get this material into print for posterity. Wisely, the council decided to pay him to write a book about Pill's history.

"The amount of work going into his books was breathtaking. I remember calling on him and finding him surrounded by newspaper cuttings.

"If I wanted to know anything, I'd ask Cliff and straight away there would be a 'phone call back or a note in the post.

"I will always remember him as a personable and likeable man. A gentleman of the old school which sadly, you don't see so many of these days."

COLONEL PETER GOODERSON, chairman, Gwent area Scout council: "In the days before the war Mr Knight had been a keen Scout and throughout his life adhered to the principles which are central to the movement.

"He was able to provide a glimpse into Scouting in Gwent going right back to the Movement's early days."

MARK WILLIAMS, artist: "I have long been fascinated by Pill as a subject and nobody who has to deal seriously with the area has to wait long before they hear Cliff Knight's name mentioned.

"Whenever the negative aspect of Pill seemed to come to the fore he was there to show just how interesting the community was whether in print or paint."