When we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk heard that Dave Morgan had passed away there was profound sdaness because over the years I learned so much from as talented a sports and news writer as I have ever come across.

On trips to places like Cardigan and Aberystwyth we sometimes shared a car and he would regale me with stories of stories that he had covered, right down to having a murderer wave to him from the dock.

I always used to tell him he ought to write a book but Dave wasn't over-fussed on that idea! In my book he was the top man amongst some other very good journalists of that time!

So we asked Gordon Thomas, who like Dave was the sports editor of the Western Telegraph, to tell us a little more about someone who was revered and trusted in his local community

One of Pembrokeshire’s best revered old school journalists died earlier this week.

David Morgan, aged 92, from Haverfordwest, worked straight from leaving school until he retired in the local newspaper business.

Many colleagues and close associates fondly called him ‘Dickie Slush’ a nickname that stuck from his school days.

Without a shadow of doubt, in my opinion Dave was one of if not the best journalists in Pembrokeshire. His dedication equalled by superb writing skills where he was highly thought of by his fellow work colleagues and readers alike.

Luckily, I had the privilege of working alongside Dave in the 1980s when he was news editor of the West Wales Guardian, at the time a popular rival paper to the Western Telegraph.

Billy Richards, Len Mullins, Ethel Clark, Jon Lees, Gareth Davies, Colin Kaijaks, Billy Davies, Colin East, Beverly Mortimer, Lee Morrissey, Karen Kemble etc where just some of the Guardian reporters he worked with.

Dave started at the Western Telegraph in the 1950s but moved to rivals West Wales Guardian in the 1970s when then owner Hector Hammond convinced him to jump ship.

On a weekly basis he consistently led his team from the front covering many breaking interesting front page scoops plus some highly national sort after stories.

This extremely talented all-rounder would cover the nitty gritty of reporting at court cases, attending council meetings, even writing a church or WI par or anything else that was required covering in the locality.

He was not afraid of getting his hands dirty as Dave would and could put his hand to anything. In the good old hot metal days, way before today’s modern day technology, the chain-smoking news hound made sure the front page was personally put to bed every week by himself, he would join forces with a compositor on the stone, that page would not go to press until he was entirely satisfied, such was the high standards, pride and dedication he had for his work.

At the Guardian he guided and instructed journalists in his old school forthright manner where he called a spade a spade. He worked long hours often beyond the call of duty making sure the paper never missed deadline. If a big news story broke, he would stop the press and get it changed much to the annoyance of the print staff.

Dave had a huge passion for sport and was an avid supporter of Haverfordwest RFC, where he covered many matches for the paper, but loved nothing more than socialising afterwards, having a few beers and cigarettes in the clubhouse at the Blues’ old clubhouse situated on the Fishguard Road, now the retail park.

Before Dave retired, he held the position of Western Telegraph sports editor, his honest match accounts were highly valued by players in Pembrokeshire.

Condolences to wife Joyce, family and  friends.

RIP Dave - it was an honour and an absolute privilege to have known and worked with such a top bloke.