TRIBUTES have been paid to former Post sports editor, Mervyn Palmer.

The Post reported last week the sad news that Merv had passed away at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, on Saturday, July 22 after a short illness.

Merv was a popular character and became very well known in towns and villages, both through his love of sport and on his rounds, garnering information for Merv’s Mentions.

One of Merv’s friends, Bill Kneebone, said: “It was with great sadness that I read in this week’s Post of the death of Mervyn Palmer. Over the years I regularly appeared in his ‘infamous’ Merv’s Mentions, where he had the uncanny knack of taking the ‘mickey’ in the kindest of ways.

“Merv must have had a team of secret reporters that passed on snippets of information that found their way into his widely read and much-loved column.

“My personal connections with Merv go back a long way, particularly when I was president of Bude Rugby Club for ten years in the 90s. Merv was a regular and welcome visitor to the club and also relied on me to write the match reports which had to be in on Mondays. I was often reprimanded for late copy which I faxed to him in long hand and would often get a call because he couldn’t read my writing!

“When I read the report I was saddened but, at the same time, both pleased and amused to see the picture of Merv toasting me (the photographer) at Red Gables Retirement Home. This was taken about 20 years ago at a garden party we arranged at the home and our matron, Lorraine Morris, had invited him to open the proceedings to which he happily obliged. On another occasion, he played the first stroke on a putting-green we had installed on the front lawn to the polite applause of a dozen very elderly residents who were always pleased to see him on his visits.

“More latterly, after his retirement, we would often meet up at Steve Cowling’s (also often mentioned in the ‘mentions!’) office, to exchange local gossip, mainly about Bude Rugby Club, and generally ‘tell the tale’.

“Merv was unique as a reporter — his knowledge of local sports and sportsmen was amazing — and his style was always kind and entertaining.

“I’m sure that my ‘mentions’ will be endorsed by all that knew and worked with him. Merv Palmer will be greatly missed.”

Keith Whitford, former editor at the Post, said: “I worked alongside Merv as first news editor and later as editor for many years. Whilst he had a deep love of all sport, it was local sport that he adored, recording in his meticulous and methodical fashion the ups and down of women and men and especially young people in everything from golf to darts, but beyond that there was something even more motivating and vital to him — love of the people taking part in those sports or those helping to create the playing fields, pitches, courts and so on, where the action took place.

“The tea ladies, the ground keepers, the committee members, the scorers at Werrington Cricket Club will all attest to that. The same can be said about dozens of similar sports settings, where Merv would visit in a regular basis from the All Blacks at Polson to football matches with just a handful of spectators, in both sun and rain to record their deeds.

“Although a footballer, a good one in his younger days, every sport was covered without fear or favour, providing it was local. In the course of his visits to sporting arenas and many social events, Merv would also gather and garner ‘copy’ for the famous Merv’s Mentions. These were a unique collection of humorous incidents or often regretted and embarrassing comments from all and sundry. They were never malicious yet the sight of Merv scribbling in his ever present notebook sent trepidation through many a local soul, but I suspect most were pleased or proud to be ’mentioned by Merv’, it was a little badge of honour and a staple topic of conversation in pubs, clubs and cafes, once the Bude and Launceston Gazette, the sister paper of the Post hit the streets.

“Mervyn T Palmer will be greatly missed and I would like to send my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and former colleagues. He was truly a one-off sports editor and local character.”

Other tributes were left on the Post website — www.thepost.uk.com — including from Dave Willshire who said: “So sorry to hear the news about Merv, he was a great person and we had many a good laugh.”

Les Bennett wrote: “A very knowledgeable sportsman who always entertained.”

Ray Worden said: “Very sad news indeed. I always enjoyed reading Merv’s Mentions. RIP Mr Palmer.”