FRIENDS, family and former work colleagues attended the funeral of long-serving Kent Messenger Group journalist John Haynes.

Charing Crematorium was packed for the service during which Mr Haynes was described as a devoted family man, respected journalist and popular member of the village community at Woodchurch, near Ashford.

Mr Haynes, who was 73, was employed by the KM Group as a production journalist for more than 30 years. Among the posts he held with the company were chief sub editor of the Kent Messenger, group features editor, production editor of the Evening Post/Kent Today and revise editor. He retired in 1999.

At his funeral, his sons Paul and Jon, along with their wives, both named Lisa, were joined by family members, as well as representatives of Woodchurch, including parish council vice-chairman Tony Mobbs.

Representatives of the KM Group included former chairman Edwin Boorman who is now president of the company.

The Rev Neville Gallagher, from Woodchurch, conducted the service. He described Mr Haynes, who died at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury shortly after the death of his second wife Carol, as "a big man in every sense of the word who left a mark on all those who knew him".

KM managing editor Ron Green praised the man he knew and worked with for so many years.

He said: "John worked for the company for 34 years and that meant he had to cope with a revolution from when lumps of lead were being turned into slugs of type to the age of computers.

"He held many responsible and undeniably tough positions with the Kent Messenger Group as a chief sub-editor, features editor and production editor having to work under considerable pressure to very rigorous deadlines.

"But he always found time to help people and get the best out of them."

Mr Green praised Mr Haynes' perfectionism with regard to the written word, reminding all that he co-wrote the group's style book with former KM editor John Evans.

Mr Green added: "He was the consummate professional, respected and admired and goodness me, did we miss him when he retired."

In retirement, Mr Haynes became an enthuasitic supporter of his native village, joining the Bridge Club and helping with Woodchurch Players' production, including supplying regular reviews to the Kentish Express.

Others associated with the KM Group at the funeral included Peter Edgley, a former director, as well as former executives Alan Moultrie, Peter Edwards, Richard Harvey, Graham Cole, John Evans and Norman Smith.

Current editors included Leo Whitlock, Andy Rayfield, Bob Bounds, plus sports writer Tony Hudd and Kentish Express reporter Michael DeFroand.