Former Abingdon Herald reporter Phil Clee loved being a part of the community where he lived.

His colleagues have paid tribute to the journalist who worked for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times newspaper group for more than 30 years.

Mr Clee died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on August 23 following a short illness. He was 76.

The journalist who had lived in Abingdon since first moving to the town in 1976, served as chief district reporter for the Abingdon Herald.

He also spent many years reporting from head office for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times, as well as covering the Didcot Herald and Wantage Herald before retiring in 2007.

Phil Clee was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire on June 3, 1948 to his parents, John and Madge and had an older sister, Marilyn.

Phil met Lynn in 1985 in The Punchbowl pub in Abingdon and they got married in 1988, less than 100 yards away in the Roysse Room in Abingdon Guildhall.

He leaves Lynn, to whom he was married for 36 years, two sons, Christian and Tom, and a grandson, Jacob.

(Image: Clee family) Before moving to Oxfordshire, Phil was the Thurrock district reporter for Essex and East London Newspapers, the Milton Keynes district reporter for the Bletchley Gazette and the Sandwell district reporter for the Express & Star in Wolverhampton.

He also worked as a motoring correspondent and volunteered for Riding for the Disabled, while his keen interest in classic aircraft meant he was a regular visitor to air shows around the country.

Former Oxford Times chief reporter Reg Little said: "I knew Phil as a friend and colleague for 30 years.

(Image: Clee family) "The way he covered his patch in Abingdon, and later Wantage, never failed to impress me.

"He simply seemed to know everyone. While other less talented journalists wanted to shine and move on, Phil loved being part of the community where he lived. His integrity shone through.

"People trusted him and in return he was rewarded with stories and exclusives other reporters would never have uncovered.

"Phil had charm, great writing ability, local knowledge and a serious interest in history. He was the one many of us turned to for advice in the office, or, in my case, over a pint."

John Chipperfield, former news editor of the Oxford Mail, The Oxford Times and Abingdon Herald, said: "Phil Clee was a stalwart of our Abingdon reporting team for many years and was admired by colleagues as well as by many readers in the Abingdon area."

The funeral will take place at 2pm on Wednesday, September 18 at South Oxfordshire Crematorium near Abingdon.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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