John (pictured), who had worked for Archant and its predecessors for more than 40 years and who retired earlier this year, was diagnosed with cancer in November 2010.
His career with the Comet pre-dates the newspaper itself. He had been with the group for 46 years, and for more than 37 of those years he held the title of news editor.
Initially starting work on the Pictorial, he was on the title when it changed name to the Comet and shortly afterwards took the job role which he held until his retirement.
Through successive editors and changes of ownership, John has been an ever-present on the title and has guided many junior reporters through their formative years while also providing the engine room for a number of successes, most notably when the Comet was named Free Newspaper of the Year by the UK Press Gazette, Newspaper Society, EDF Energy and Archant.
John’s commitment to the Comet was there for all to see and he took on the very mantle of the title, having served on it since it was formed back in 1971.
In his formative years as a reporter, John worked in a number of branch offices and, while as a Letchworth-born lad that was his initial area of expertise, he quickly went on to gain a host of fantastic contacts throughout the whole of Comet country.
As news editor, John established himself as the man in the know in North Herts and his knowledge of the area was unrivalled. From road name spellings and local history to names of former chairmen or mayors, John knew his history because he was a working journalist when it was being made.
In the role of news editor, John brought a solid organisation to the title and as the Comet found its feet in the early years he made sure that reporters followed his lead and took the title along the road which was dictated by the editors of the time.
In later years, John’s expertise expressed itself in his weekly Perspective column in which he tackled a number of issues using his remarkable local knowledge, often proving that many of the stories which affect us are nothing unusual because John had seen it all before.
He provided a great connection for those readers who have grown up with the Comet but, while he was able to play heavily on nostalgia, he also recognised that with breakthroughs such as social media there is an exciting future for newspapers.
Comet editor Darren Isted said: “John was the most influential journalist in this area and was everything that’s best about the local press.
“He knew the people and places of this area intimately, from the big political figures to the volunteers and group organisers who did so much but never hit the headlines.
“The North Herts marketplace has been through a number of changes but John was the guiding hand to make sure that the Comet has not only survived but also thrived to remain as the dominant product.
“For a few years John was news editor of the Comet, the Herald and the North Herts Gazette as all three titles were owned by one company. He juggled that role with his trademark calm and unflustered demeanour.
“On a personal level he was there when I started at the Comet as a very raw junior reporter and taught me to try and stay calm, even when under extreme pressure.
“His loss is felt by all in the media family but I have lost a great colleague and friend. Even now I want to shout out his name and ask the spelling of a road name and in which town or village it is situated. John would know, he always did and he was never wrong.
“The greatest tribute one can pay to John is that, despite severe ill health in the past year, he has shown strength and courage which have made him a role model for all.”
North East Hertfordshire MP Oliver Heald said: “I am very sorry to hear about John, who was an old friend and a very fine journalist. He always wrote a very truthful and well honed story and was a marvellous news editor for the Comet. He will be missed by all his friends in Comet country. He battled bravely against his illness for some years and everybody admired his courage. I send my very best wishes to his family and will be thinking of them at this sad time.”
Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland said: “My thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time and many of us will mourn him locally. John was a real inspiration with his dedication to the community and always brought a great sense of humour to his work. I and many others will miss him as one of the great local journalists.”
Former colleague Phil Morey said: “John Adams was the most remarkable of men – able to keep his head in the pressured environment of a newsroom at deadline, unflappable and infinitely dependable, inspiring and caring.
“I came to know John extremely well, working alongside him for more than 22 years in my capacity as deputy editor and then editor, before I retired in 2009. Over that time I built up an immense respect for this man, who worked his way through the local editorial ranks until he became news editor, but who decided the bright lights of Fleet Street were not for him and instead devoted his working life to the Comet. He rejected the cut-throat world of national journalism, he wanted to make a difference in his local community, where he could meet people face-to-face, walk the same streets where his readers lived, shop in the same shops and share their hopes, their fears and their expectations.
“In all the years I worked alongside him, John barely had a day off work, his dependability was legendary and his ability to write a cracking story at short notice was a tribute to his writing skills. The depth of news coverage on the Comet was a result of his formidable organising ability, the esteem in which his work colleagues held him a reflection of his professionalism and ability to motivate people, and the respect of his many contacts in all walks of life a result of his outstanding honesty, integrity and fairness.
“He was a man out of the very top drawer, a true gentleman, and a consummate journalist. He will be sorely missed.”
Former colleague Alan Millard said: “John was a colleague of mine for 40 years until I retired in 2009. During that time we enjoyed working together on countless occasions, covering many tragic and happy events over the years, including numerous royal visits and even a trip to Switzerland to cover It’s a Knockout.
“We had a great time together, enjoying every aspect of journalism and the work involved in producing a newspaper. John was a very popular and competent journalist who will be sadly missed by us all. My thoughts go out to his widow Judy and family.”
Stevenage Borough Council leader Sharon Taylor said: “He’s made a huge contribution to making our local media a real feature of the community and I think it’s terribly sad that now he’s just taken a step back for a well-earned rest and has died so suddenly.”
North Herts District Council’s communications manager Sarah Dobor said: “NHDC’s communications team members, both past and present, have enjoyed working with John over the years. He was always a pleasure to talk to, with a knowledge of the local area and its history that was second to none. His sense of humour, which came to the fore in his weekly column, was enjoyed by many and he will be sadly missed by many current and former employees of the council.”
John’s funeral will be held at 3.30pm on Thursday April 25 at Harwood Park Crematorium, Stevenage SG2 8XT.
