Gordon Small, former managing editor of women’s and teenage magazines with DC Thomson, has died at the age of 78.
He was also a past president of Dundee Rotary Club and a past deacon convener of the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee.
Mr Small attended Morgan Academy and joined DC Thomson in 1954 after national service with the Royal Air Force.
He spent two years as a sub-editor with the People’s Journal before moving to women’s magazines.
He later became chief sub-editor of teenage magazine, Romeo, and then launched and edited Jackie in 1964. The publication proved enormously successful, at its height selling more than one million copies a week.
Mr Small became editorial manager of the teenage magazine division in 1970 and launched several papers in that market, including Blue Jeans, Patches, TV Tops, Young Americans and Etcetera.
Later he was involved in the launch of First Steps and Classic Stitches publications when women’s magazines came under his control.
He was also behind the publication of Classic Motorcycling Legends magazine.
He retired in 1998.
Mr Small had a lifelong interest in motorcycling and wrote the Biker motorcycling column for the Evening Telegraph. He was also a regular contributor to The Craigie column in The Courier.
In 2008 he published a book on the Newport and Wormit war memorial and stories of the men it commemorates. He also wrote a books about the Thomson and Leng publishing families.
In 2009 he received the Paul Harris medallion, Rotary International’s most prestigious accolade, for his work in the community. He was nominated by fellow members of the Dundee club for his work on a host of projects over 50 years, including fundraising for the Tayside cancer appeal and for Rachel House children’s hospice in Kinross.
The club has paid tribute to Mr Small. Spokesman Peter Leyland said: “The tribute was given by his good friend, past president Ronald Hutcheson. He gave a moving account of Gordon, who was one of life’s real characters and will be sadly missed by all.”
Mr Small was also a long-standing member of the Bonnetmaker Trade in Dundee.
Mr Small, who lived in Newport, is survived by his wife Margaret, their children, Graeme, Dorothy and Iain, and eight grandchildren.