TRIBUTES from friends, family and colleagues have been paid to Geoff Hedge, chief property writer with The Oxford Times, who died suddenly last week.

Mr Hedge, 58, who had worked at the Oxford Mail’s sister newspaper for 20 years, was brought up in Littlemore, Oxford, and attended the local grammar school.

After leaving school, he became a nurse with the Isis Group Hospital Management Committee.

He quickly became inv- olved in organising concerts and shows to support Littlemore Hospital and, at 21, started presenting a fortnightly programme, Oxford Sounds, for the Oxford Hospitals’ Broadcasting Association.

At the same time, he dabbled in local politics when he was co-opted to fill a casual vacancy on Littlemore Parish Council and he went on to fight an election representing the Labour Party.

By 1971, he had made his journalistic debut, editing the newsletter for the League of Friends of the Littlemore Park and Warneford Hospitals and later became the first person from Oxford to record a public service announcement on television at the ATV studios in Birmingham.

His commitment to his home community was strengthened further when he joined the board of managers of Rose Hill Nursery School in 1974 and then became chairman of the Friends of Ritchie Russell House, the young disabled unit.

During his career, Mr Hedge also presented for hospital station Radio Cherwell and was a freelance reporter for the Reading Chronicle and Radio Oxford.

He was also editor of the community newspaper, Littlemore Local, from 1974-86, before landing a job at Newspaper House in Osney Mead as a reporter for the Oxford Star.

His keen interest in gardening and do-it-yourself soon came to the fore along with his enthusiasm for charity events.

Later he started to write for the property section of The Oxford Times, developing strong working relationships with estate agents in a key area for the newspaper.

Derek Holmes, editor of The Oxford Times, said: “We were all deeply shocked and saddened at Geoff’s sudden death.

“He was an enthusiastic, cheerful and friendly face, always willing to help.

“Over 20 years, he worked in many capacities but it was as a property writer that he excelled.

“He was widely respected among property agents in Oxfordshire. They all knew him because he made it his business to get out to their offices and meet them.”

Estate agent Graham MacDonald, of Summertown-based Kemp & Kemp Residential, added: “Geoff was a pleasure to work with and he always had time to talk on the telephone even when he was up against deadlines.

“He was a consummate professional and incredibly knowledgeable about properties and every little corner of the city and the county.

“His support was always volunteered with humour, patience, eternal optimism and an unswervingly positive outlook.”

He is survived by his mother, Esme, 94, daughter, Ruth, and two grandchildren, Aisha, 11, and 18-month-old Elouise. Daughter Ruth Hedge said: “He adored his granddaughters, and was very much the family man.”

Colleagues and friends also highlighted his generous nature and in the office he frequently handed out fruit and pastries, often found in his relentless search for bargains.

Jacky Richardson, Mr Hedge’s partner of the last four years, added: “He was an unselfish, caring gentleman.

“He loved to see the look in people’s eyes when he gave them something, whether it was a biscuit or a bunch of flowers.”