February 16, 2001 9:35: BEST-SELLING author Terry Pratchett has paid tribute to former Free Press editor Arthur Church who started his career in writing.

When Mr Pratchett, who was an apprentice of Arthur, heard of his death he penned a piece for the paper in his own unique style.

He said: "I remember finding out that the moon shines on High Wycombe. I'm one of the privileged few who witnessed this discovery one Thursday as we put the paper to bed at Gomm Road.

"One of the early Apollo missions brought back those first amazing pictures of the moon, taken from orbit right above it. Possibly the people high up drew straws to see who would ring Arthur to tell him that he'd have to clear most of his front page.

"We watched as he took the call. His expression grew thunderous.

"After the call he was silent for a while as he tried to come to terms with this. Then he brightened up and announced: "Well, the moon 'does' shine on High Wycombe, after all."

"Then we re-jigged the paper and sold a lot of extra copies next day. The words were remembered by all present.

"Arthur cared about the area, with a quiet passion. He was the editor of the big solid local paper, after all, which mattered to the community.

"Lots of people were being paid to care about the prospect of men going to the moon, but Arthur saw it as his job to remember that people already lived in Downley.

"He was a good journalist, and that's pretty high praise."