JOHN Lees, one of of the Argus's longest-serving sub-editors and widely respected as a journalist of the old-school has died in the Royal Gwent Hospital at the age of 73 having contracted pneumonia after treatment for a serious illness.

After a thorough grounding in local journalism Mr Lees, who was born on February 26 1938 came to the Argus in October 1973 and immediately established a name as a journalist who wrote fairly and fearlessly of what he saw.

But it was as a sub-editor that he was best known and most highly regarded.

Lazy writing, bad grammar and most sinful of all, insufficient attention to detail particularly in the matters of military and church rank were not tolerated.

With wispy fair hair often all-awry and sometimes stern expression John Lees could cut an awesome figure and there were few who cared to test his responses in the matter of carelessness.

But a generation of younger journalists had reason to be thankful for the virtues he instilled.

Mr Gerry Keighley, editor of the South Wales Argus who worked with John right up to the latter's retirement in May, 2006 said: "John was a sub-editor of the old school to whom this newspaper and the way it was presented to our public mattered enormously.

"On the surface he was sometimes daunting.

"But those who took the trouble to learn and listen had their efforts rewarded very much to the benefit of this newspaper."

In his leisure hours John Lees fired, and was a mine of knowledge, upon the subject of black-powder muskets and rifles.