Geoff Hedge, chief property writer with The Oxford Times, died suddenly last week at the age of 58.

Mr Hedge, who had worked at the newspaper for 20 years, was brought up in Littlemore and attended the local grammar school.

After leaving school, he became a nurse and quickly became involved in organising concerts and shows to support Littlemore Hospital. At 21 he started presenting a fortnightly programme for hospital radio.

By 1971 he had made his journalistic debut, editing the newsletter for the League of Friends of the Littlemore Park and Warneford Hospitals.

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 paper Littlemore Local from 1974 to 1986 before getting a job as a reporter with our sister paper, the Oxford Star.

His keen interest in do-it-yourself soon came to the fore, and for many years he wrote this paper’s DIY column.

Later he started to write for the property section of The Oxford Times.

Derek Holmes, editor of The Oxford Times, said: “We were all deeply shocked and saddened at Geoff's sudden death. Over 20 years he worked in many capacities, but it was as a property writer that he excelled.”

Estate agent Graham MacDonald, of Summertown-based Kemp & Kemp Residential, added: “Geoff was a pleasure to work with. He was a consummate professional.”

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

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