Kevin Nash

Kevin, a father-of-three, worked at the Echo for many years as sports editor and later as features editor.

Since leaving in 2010 he had written articles for a number of different publications, mainly about football and his beloved golf.

Earlier in his career he worked as a sub-editor at the China Daily in Beijing and he has also written books about football.

He leaves his wife, Michele, and their three children, Amy, 22, Harry, 19, and 12-year-old Phoebe.

Tributes poured in following news of his death on Wednesday, just 11 days after being taken ill with pancreatitis.

Michele said: “He was a wonderful father and so proud of his three children and all their achievements. His family were his greatest pleasure, along with his golf. It is a shock for the whole family because it was so sudden.”

Keen golfer Kevin was thrilled to get a hole-in-one at Meyrick Park golf course recently, with former Echo deputy editor Ed Perkins adding: “Kevin was one of the very finest writers I worked with in 38 years of journalism he was also one of the nicest people to be alongside.”

Many figures from the sporting world have paid tribute including Cherries boss Eddie Howe who said: “Kevin was a really good guy who cared passionately about this football club. He was also a very good reporter and very good at his job. He was a gentleman.”

Former Cherries manager Tony Pulis, now Stoke City manager, said: “My thoughts are with the family” and Poole Town manager Tom Killick said: “He was just a really nice guy and really good company. He had a real depth of knowledge in all levels of sport.”

Mayor of Bournemouth Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts said Kevin was a “great sports reporter” who was “first with the news” during some of AFC Bournemouth’s most difficult times.

Fred Curtis, whose late wife Jeanne knew Kevin through charity cricket matches between Echo and Town Hall staff when she was mayor, said: “He was a very charming gentleman and very dedicated to his job.”