Over the years, his career has brought him into contact with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, football, rugby league and golfing personalities, voluntary organisations and Royalty.

"It has been very enjoyable and exciting at times but the people I am going to miss most are those I have worked with all these years," he said.

Gordon attended the former Rastrick Grammar School before he joined the Brighouse Echo, in July 1959. Two of his best sources of information at that time were his parents, Doris and Peter, who ran the town's Black Bull pub for more than 20 years.

In the early 1960s, he joined the Courier sports desk where he was able to indulge his passion for speedway.

Gordon was the deputy sports editor and he regularly covered Halifax Town, Halifax Rugby League Club and the local cricket teams.

In 1981, he returned to the Echo as associate editor and in 1987 he became editor of the paper.

In the early 1990s, Gordon was appointed special features editor at the Courier, editor of the Calderdale News and more recently head of arts and entertainment coverage.

For a while he was chairman of the former Ashlar Adult Education Committee.

He is a home visitor for the RSPCA and last year won an award for placing more pets with people than any other member.

Gordon is a member of Castlefields Golf Club, Rastrick, and a social member of Elland Golf Club. He played squash for many years at the former Rastrick Squash Club.

He enjoys ballroom and sequence dancing and is a regular at the Ritz, in Brighouse.

He is married to Viv and has two daughters, Karina and Natasha to his first wife. Gordon said he was looking forward to a break.