Tributes have been paid to an "inspiring" businessman and former newspaper chief.

David Faulkner passed away on Tuesday morning after a sudden illness.

David spent 40 years in regional publishing including eight as managing director of NWN Media - whose titles include the Rhyl Journal, North Wales Pioneer, North Chronicle, Denbighshire Free Press, Powys County Times, Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer and Whitchurch Herald - before it was bought by Newsquest this time last year.

He left the company in November 2017.

A prominent figure in Chester, he was also president of Chester Business Club.

Paying tribute to him, Bob Clough-Parker, the club's secretary, said: "He was an inspiring, charismatic character with a gift for leadership who did so much for not only the Club but for the local business community as a whole.

"Not least, he demonstrated great loyalty and was blessed with a knack of making friends, having fun and not taking himself too seriously.

"He will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Rhyl Journal:

David Faulkner, right, alongside Barrie Jones, former editorial director of NWN Media

Barrie Jones, former editorial director of NWN Media Ltd said: “ I was very shocked to hear of David’s sudden death, we had worked closely together for some years and remained good friends. 

“He was a newspaperman through and through after more than 40 years experience in the media industry. A larger than life character in many ways, he believed that life was there to be enjoyed and to be made the very most of at all times.

“He was a well liked and respected businessman who was able to move with the times as the media industry changed beyond recognition in recent years. But he also had a very sensitive caring side and was a devoted family man. 

“His career in regional publishing saw him in several Managing Director roles. These included running the Welsh Daily Post and the Chester Chronicle titles and other positions with the Mirror Group in the North West, South Wales and in the Midlands. He was also one of the founders of the Dee 106.2 radio station in Chester.

“His death is a very sad loss and my sympathies go to his family.”

David initially entered the newspaper world as a management trainee for the Thomson Newspapers group, then the largest publisher of regional newspapers in the country.

Over the years he worked across the UK overseeing a number of large publishing operations.

He was for several years managing director of the Chester Chronicle group of titles owned by Trinity Mirror, now known as Reach PLC.

He then worked for Trinity in the Midlands before returning to Chester to become MD of NWN Media Ltd in 2008.

David also served on a number of bodies working towards an economically successful city and region, including: Chester City Centre Management, Chester Business Leadership Forum, a board member of CEWTEC and a director of Ellesmere Port Enterprise Agency.