February 8, 2001 17:08: TRIBUTES have been flooding in for popular Arthur Church who lost his fight against lung cancer on Sunday. The 89-year-old had been suffering from the disease since the end of last year.

He would probably be shocked that a whole page has been dedicated to his life in his cherished Bucks Free Press.

But it's hardly surprising since he was part of the paper's life for 72 years and has left a legacy that is still used in many editorial conferences. Many people who knew Arthur say he was quite unique.

Editor Steve Cohen said: "His like will probably never be seen again. He was still writing a column for the paper right up until last year - an astonishing 72 years after he first came here as a reporter.

"That is an amazing display of loyalty and longevity."

Arthur was born in Richardson Street, High Wycombe, and started his working life as a delivery boy.

He joined the BFP in 1928 as a cub reporter, and despite leaving for a short spell in the 1930s, he quickly returned to the paper in 1933 after qualifying as a senior reporter.

Arthur stayed loyal to the paper, going on to become chief reporter, sub-editor and eventually editor in 1956, a post he held for 20 years until he retired.

He returned as a sub editor and then wrote a weekly column called Church View for the paper.

Arthur, who said you had to have printer's ink in your blood to be in the industry, saw many dramatic technological changes at the newspaper. One of his most memorable and funny moments was the introduction of colour and the first picture was a view of the earth from the moon.

He said: "I jokingly said 'It's not really in our circulation area' but someone took it seriously and thought I didn't want the photograph."

Tributes have poured into the office since his death from former colleagues and readers of the paper.

Tim Blott, former BFP editor, said: "I was deeply saddened to hear of Arthur's death.

"He was an excellent editor, an authoritative and challenging columnist and a warm-hearted and generous person. The paper and the community have lost an invaluable servant."

Former BFP managing director David Green remembers when Arthur retired as editor and returned as a sub.

He said: "He came back as a sub with Bill Tilley as the editor and I think it took a lot of courage to work with all the people as a sub that you had worked with as an editor."

Bill Tilley said: "Arthur was one of the old school. A very dedicated journalist and a great believer in High Wycombe."

Arthur's son Ken says his father was a very busy man and recalled: "I asked him once what he had been doing and he said he'd been helping out in an old people's home. I thought this was pretty funny as most of them were probably younger than him."

Arthur's interests included The Rotary Club of High Wycombe, the town and Wycombe Wanderers.

He was a lifelong supporter of the football club and chairman Ivor Beeks said Arthur was a great guy and he would be missed.

Arthur also started many a journalist's career, such as John Taylor, a former BFP sports reporter who learned the rudiments of the job under Arthur's guidance. Mr Taylor said: "As Wanderers continue on their record breaking FA Cup run, I'm sure Arthur will be looking down, puffing away on his favourite pipe and willing the team to more glory."

Arthur's funeral is at Amersham Crematorium on Thursday at 2.30pm. He leaves son Ken, daughter-in-law Doreen, two grandchildren Christine and David, grandson-in-law Steve and great-grandchildren Rebecca, five, and William, nine months.

Donations instead of flowers to the Wycombe Scannappeal.

Kelly Clayton