PEMBROKESHIRE lost one of its most prolific and well-known farming reporters last week as Meyrick Brown died suddenly at home at the age of 82.

Meyrick was a regular on the agricultural show and YFC circuits. He was a frequent contributor to the Western Telegraph farming pages as well as the specialist publications Pembrokeshire Farmer and Wales Farmer.

His family remembered him as a man who was totally committed to them.

"He was the most wonderful role model we could wish for who dedicated his being to his family," said his daughter Angela.

"His way was to respond with speed not with haste to whatever was needed of him, whether it was a shoulder to cry on, some much-needed advice, a lift here or some help there.

"He didn't just care for his immediate family but also all who knew him. He brought compassion and guidance, this was just his way."

Meyrick's colleagues paid tribute to an inspirational and highly respected journalist.

Eifion Jenkins, the Western Telegraph's farming editor said: "Meyrick was a much valued and unique contributor to our farming pages and specialist publications. He had a deep appreciation of the countryside, our rural way of life and the importance of farming to it.

"Most importantly he was able to convey that knowledge in the articles he wrote for us – whether that was the intricacies of a ploughing match or the winning qualities of a dairy heifer.

"He had a keen interest too in bygone days and his historical articles had a unique authority thanks to his lifelong journalistic perspective.

"He will be greatly missed both as a writer and a as an amiable and familiar figure at shows and farming events around Pembrokeshire and, indeed, Wales."

Photographer, Johnny Morris, remembered him as a good friend and fair colleague.

"He was a good friend and a good photographer and journalist. I had a lot of respect for him," he said.

"We used to work together and we had a lot of fun.

"He was always the same. He was friendly and always had time to chat. He always had plenty of time for everyone.

"If you both took the same picture he didn't mind. He wasn't competitive. He was a gentle giant and a real gentleman."